Take a Look Up!

Polio is a disease that left many people crippled due to the virus entering their central nervous system and infecting and destroying motor neurons.  It led to muscle weakness and paralysis usually in the legs.  How wonderful when two vaccines were created that have nearly wiped out polio!  This cure has reduced worldwide incidences from an estimated 350,0000 cases in 1988 to 1,652 cases in 2007!  In these vaccines, a cure has been found!

Many Christians have a disease too!  It is a disease of worry and care – like that of Martha in Luke 10.  Jesus diagnosed her problem when she complained that her sister had left her alone to serve.  But He didn’t leave her in her sickened state- He offered her a cure…”do this one thing.”  The “one thing” was to worship Christ.  He invited her to sit at His feet.  When you and I do that, we take time for a cure from our worries, too.  To be cured, then, we must stop and

1. Take a look up.

This will require that we remove our hands from what busies us – our work, our computer, our crafts, our texting, the path on which we were headed.  Stop and look up.  Stare into Christ’s face.  This is far more than a quick glance.  This is more than reading a little devotional thought we get each day on our iPhone.  This is worship. Mary was sitting at Jesus feet, therefore she had to look up as He taught, and as she worshipped Him. This is taking time to adore and reverence Christ.

However, the distractions that hinder us are many:

• busyness
• our surroundings
• lack of heart
• stray thoughts
• feeling of being out of our comfort zone…Worship?  Really?

But there are cures for the distractions:

• Find a place that’s perfect for you – Martha had to exchange the kitchen for the living room.  If you need to have your time of worship in another room so you won’t be distracted, do it! 
• Play some quiet instrumental music (only if this will help you focus!)
• Have good lighting for reading
• Don’t be near a place where your work will call for your attention
• Get a basket to hold all the needed items –
• Bible
• Study book
• Journal
• Pen
• Highlighter
• Kleenex
• Note cards
• Pray and tell the Lord you’re struggling – He already knows!

• Keep a note pad nearby to write down your stray thoughts – “Pick up cleaning today!”
• Set the alarm 15-30 minutes earlier so you can meet with God before the family interrupts you
• Begin with prayer, asking God to speak to you
• Read God’s Word in a systematic way – not randomly
• Journal what God says as you read
• Sit and listen.  Wait!

God doesn’t reveal Himself to the casual seeker.  Psalm 27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Your greatest influence is your walk with God.  It’s not what you do or how much you do! Your work will have no value if it’s not Spirit filled or Spirit led.   This first part of the cure will help your worries, because the load is now given to the Lord during your time of worship!

to be continued…

With love,

P.S. I had an error on my lasagna recipe yesterday…don’t use 2 noodles!  Nine are needed.  Sorry!