Don’t carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Surrender completely to Jesus, and allow Him to give you His strength and His Will. I promise it is much lighter! This is the last day of this reading plan. Here are the verses. Colossians 1:27; Romans 8:10-15; John 14:20; Galatians 2:20; and Matthew 11:29. Have a blessed day.
Our beliefs are the water we swim in. It is easy to sometimes feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. We try our hardest to live the best life possible. Then, we try even harder.
Years ago, I was in a very desperate place in my life. So many of life’s disappointments were piling higher and higher. It felt like I was carrying the weight of a piano on my shoulders. I was overwhelmed and exhausted. I was ready and more than willing to hear God’s whispers for newness and freedom. But I just tried harder. I was attempting to live “right” by living righteous. I was doing all the right things but often getting the wrong results. How could this be? I was running so hard, juggling so much, spinning so many plates. Don’t I get an “A” for effort?
How many of us grew up on the “performance treadmill“, trying to be “good for God?” This is truly an exercise in exhaustion. We feel empty and never quite enough. We are always enough when He lives through us for His greater purposes. We are rarely enough when we live in our own strength. His Holy Spirit is the gift in us. Christ in us is our hope for glory!
God’s work WITHIN you prepares you for Him to work THROUGH you. This transformation is 100% the work of God and 100% your yieldedness to it. The true mystery is living FROM Him instead of the exhaustion of living FOR Him. Do you know that exhausting treadmill of trying harder?
Amidst my heavy piano-weighted season, exasperation and fatigue led me to a beautiful surrender and a new freedom in Christ. I decided to let go of living from my capabilities, behaviors, environment, or even my limiting beliefs. The dear Lord wants our whole heart, our whole mind, and our whole soul so much that He is willing to rip everything away until there is nothing left but a sweet emptiness that demands that we lay at rest in His arms, finally FREE.
This is our dying to live. This is where our weakness yields way to His strength within. This is where we actually begin to live FROM Him within instead of living FOR Him without.
You want this freedom. Don’t wait until you have the weight of a piano on your shoulders to live from this freedom. Let Him carry the piano. Die to live.
Ponder:
What would life be like if we cast all our burdens on Him and let His Holy Spirit carry us through? Do you have the weight of a piano on your shoulders? Give Him your burdens. Live FROM His strength and His call, not on the performance treadmill.
Prayer:
Oh Lord, I am exhausted by trying to spin all of the plates of performance. Save me from myself. I die to myself living FOR You and ask that You fill me “to overflowing” so that I can live FROM Your strength and purposes. In Jesus’ precious name I pray. Amen.
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PLAN END NOTE: Roxanne’s passion is to speak life-giving truths into the hearts of others. She loves to speak at retreats and conventions. She hosts her own DEEPER Intensive and RISE UP coaching workshops and works with clients nationwide as a personal life coach. You can contact her, order her new book and get more information at RoxanneParks.com. She would be honored to connect with you.
Watch “Dying to Live – Day 10” on YouTube.
Colossians 1:27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Romans 8:10. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
John 14:20. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Galatians 2:20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Matthew 11:29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Loving God Holy 