Something I learned from my devotions today

I was doing my devotions this morning. I am reading Ecclesiastes and am only in the second chapter. And I'm also reading a book by Francis Chan called "crazy love". Today I learned a couple things and thought I'd share.

1) Chasing after things of this world gains us nothing, chasing after God and what is eternal is what gains us something and lasts.

2) God is the movie, and we are the extras. We convey God's message...God does not convey ours.

Lately my focus has been on what I have to get done and what my life will look like. Especially with the wedding, and school, and finding a job, and just living day to day.

I read something today that made me think and changed my perspective in a crazy way. And I want to share it.

"I used to believe there are two kinds of people the natural worriers and the naturally joyful people...But there's that perplexing command: 'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice!' (Phil. 4.4). You'll notice it doesn't end with '...unless you're doing something extremely important.' No, it's a command for alll of us, and it follows with the change, 'do not be anxious for anything' (v. 6).

This came as a pretty staggering realization. But what I realized next was even more staggering.

When I am consumed by my problems--stressed about my life, my family, and my job--I actually convey the belief that I thing the circumstances are more important that God's command to always rejoice. In other words, that I have the "right" to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities.

Worry implies that we don't quite trust God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.

Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.

Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional."

If you're like me, you'll be totally blown away and convicted by this. I was really wrapped up in my life and worrying all the time, making myself sick from stress. And I don't need to do that, and I was being selfish. I didn't realize I was conveying that my life was more important than God's plan. I'm not saying that the change I need to make will be easy, but I know that the life I live will be so much better without worry and stress. Becoming reliant in God and not myself.