Don't Pray for a Lighter Load, but a Stronger Back

     "Pray not for a lighter burden, but a stronger back." This old Proverb is so applicable to us today, seeing as how so many of us want things to get done but don't want to do the work it takes to see it through. As Christians we know that we're supposed to work for the Lord, but how often do we stop when the job gets difficult, or when it goes outside of our comfort zone? Maybe we don't want to do the work because we are lazy, or because we know someone else will step in and do it if we don't. We see so many examples of Christians who served God to the fullness of their potential and didn't stop when it got rough or scary - we see this in the lives of  Abraham, Noah, Moses, Joshua, Ruth, Paul, Joseph, Mary, and SO many others. They didn't stop when the work was tiring or heavy, but they pushed through and reaped so many positive results because of that.
     I found this cartoon on the Internet and I think it perfectly sums up the importance of enduring the burdens that God asks us to carry, for we need them in the end.

     We are guaranteed hardships in this life, and there are crosses that we're going to have to carry. Each of us have to go through struggles in different ways at different times, but God lets us go through that process so that we can grow. Working for the Lord may get tiring and hard to bear at some points, but we will be able to use that trial to get through what God needs us to get through. This cartoon man kept begging for a lighter load, when he really should have been praying for stronger shoulders. We need the struggles and pains in this life to help us grow and achieve great things for God. When we pray for a lighter cross, sometimes God answers that prayer, and it may seem good at the time. We see this guy with the little music notes over his head - he's a happy camper. But then we see that he needed that cross, he needed that burden in the end, so he could make it through the real danger. Just like that little cartoon guy, we need our cross to get through the battles. So don't pray for a lighter cross, but pray that God would give you the strength you need to carry it until the end. 

 Stay excellent!

The Weight of your Words

     The phrase "actions speak louder than words" may be true, but it doesn't mean that words don't matter. Words can make a colossal impact both positively and negatively in the lives of others, and it's up to us how we want to control our tongues. 

      Often times, people speak without even thinking, and that can cause a lot of damage. We spout things off when we're tired, angry or grumpy, and those things can really hurt someone. At the same time, we have the power to completely change someone's day and maybe even their life, by letting them know that they're loved, special or important. 

     The Bible refers to our tongues as a razor in Psalm 52. If I really thought of that each time I opened my mouth, I'm 99.9% different I wouldn't say half of the things that I say. It would be easy to sit and count the times people have said (or didn't say) things that have really hurt me. At the same time, I could turn around and realize that I have probably said just as many things to people that have hurt them. Our words carry so much more weight than we could even realize, and it starts with you as an individual making the difference.

Proverbs 12:18 - There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is health. 

There are two types of people according to this verse - those who's words pierce other's like a sword, and those who are wise. The question is, which tongue do you have - the piercing tongue, or the wise one?

Proverbs 18:21 - The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Do you love the negative power that your harsh words can deliver? The Bible says right here that it has the power of life and death. There are thousands of stories where someone has committed suicide and the turning point were the words that someone said, while there are also thousands of stories where someone didn't commit suicide because someone stepped in and let them know their lives were valuable. 

Matthew 15:18 - But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

Our mouths reflect what's in our heart. If what we say is nasty and mean, all it does is show everyone that the heart is infested with bitterness and anger. We should be a sensitive and caring people, sharing the love and kindness of Jesus, not infected with the disease of meanness. 

Things that we say could be stamped on someone's heart forever. What if each word we said was permanently inked on our skin? How much more careful would we be with what we say? Make sure that you think of the weight of your words, and may all we say bring a smile to our Heavenly Father's face. 

Stay excellent!