Jul. 7, 2007 - Fretting
Fretting is not something God wants His children to do. I know this and I say I will not fret, but then I do. Early this week an issue came up that in years past I have fretted over. I told myself I would not fret this time. I would simply give it to God. Well, I would pray and think, "now I will not fret." Then I would find myself thinking on the problem again trying to find the right solution or make sense of it all.
I prayed God would help me not fret. The very next morning for my devotion time I picked up my copy of Oswald Chambers' __My Utmost for His Highest__. God has used Mr. Chambers' work to minister to me on several very trying occassions. This time was no different. So often the Scripture the devotion is based on, although short, will cut right to the problem. Even when I do not realize there is a problem! God's Word is powerful. Then as Mr. Chambers expounds on the verse I see it in a way I never have before.
The verse for the morning of July 4th was Psalm 37:8. "Fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil doing." It did not say "fret not if you can help it." Mr. Chambers goes on to say, "We imagine that a little anxiety and worry are an indication of how really wise we are; it is much more an indication of how really wicked we are. Fretting springs from a determination to get our own way."
Oh, my! Those two sentences sum me up. (I really would not have called myself wick though!!! Even though I am) Fretting is my choice. Just like "pray without ceasing" and "be joyful always" are my choice. I can not do any of these things without the strenght of God, but I have to choose to do what is right and He has promised the strength. "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
Isn't God AWESOME,
April
