Recently I had to leave my family in order to take care of my momma who was hospitalized in my hometown. She lives by herself and in the emergency she was facing, she had to be taken to the hospital by some friends of ours, who live close to her and have the keys to her house, since all her family live in other states. She was very ill and we did not know if she would make it!
My momma has always lived on her own and for many years she ran her affairs trusting on her own wisdom and her strength! Oh and of course she also trusted God, but not the way she does NOW!!
Last time momma was hospitalized she became stressed because we needed to find someone to care for her house against burglary. She was always saying it took her a lifetime of work to build it and furnish it, and was not leaving it for the burglars! But, not on this occasion! I was amazed at how her Faith and Trust in God has grown!
To most of us the verses of Psalm 127 are so familiar we might even know them by heart. But do we really put these truths into practice?
As soon as the day begins we find ourselves busy “building” a life: a career, a family, a business and it is all hard labor!
“Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.” (127:1)
We focus on our strength and wisdom to run our affairs, but great part of our labor is in vain if we do not acknowledge God’s favor and wisdom over our lives and of our families’.
“It is vain for you to rise early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of anxious labors—
For He gives [blessings] to His beloved even in his sleep.” (127:2. Emphasis mine)
Yes, if we trust our lives, families and possessions unto His care, we will be delivered from stress and sleepless nights, and will be able to count our blessings in Him (127:3-5).
How could this be? Because He loves us! We are His precious children! We must not base our identity and our security on our own resources, but on WHO we are in Christ! (Eph. 1:4,7,11-14; Col. 1:27)
“Some are so eager upon the world, that they are continually full of care, which makes their comforts bitter, and their lives a burden. All this is to get money; but all in vain, except God prosper them: while those who love the Lord, using due diligence in their lawful callings, and casting all their care upon him, have needful success, without uneasiness or vexation. Our care must be to keep ourselves in the love of God; then we may be easy, whether we have little or much of this world. But we must use the proper means very diligently.” (M. Henry)
Jesus invites us to:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me[following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.” (Mat.11:28-30)
Mom was released from the hospital with a new opportunity of life and a renewed faith! She confessed she has learned to live “one day at a time” according to God’s Purpose and Perfect Plans for her life!
What about you? “What are your plans for today? What about the next year, or even five years? Ask God to be the builder of your plans both today and the future. Thank him today for making you part of his crew.” (iWorship Bible)
Blessings!
Mari