Day 13 of Lent

By


“The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”
~Mark 6:30-231


“Horse Before the Cart”
 by Evelynn McRae
I daily have many questions and concerns, as well as crisis that seem to need an immediate fix.  I can easily dwell on all the negatives.  This comes naturally. 
...Or, I can choose like Mary, sister of Martha, to do the “one thing” needed.  First and foremost, sit at His feet and worship Jesus!
Recently, as I was jogging in my neighborhood and asking the Lord about many things, He responded with this thought:
Don’t put the cart before the horse. 
“Wow,” I thought.  “That is a different kind of answer….”
I looked up the meaning of this idiom and the history behind it.  One of the earliest citations is from Cicero in 44 BCE.  Inherited from the Greeks – “the thing” that should come second is put first!
As I questioned the Lord, these thoughts enlarged.  The “one thing” that should come first is to commune with the Lord and seek His agenda.  Jesus gave the example when He went out early and communed with His Father before beginning His day.  Then He went forth with the Father’s agenda and authority.
As I meditated on this the next several days, I understood that for me to put the cart before the horse is to follow compassion for all the needs we encounter or follow guidelines of others without seeking God first.  I shouldn’t presume to know His will just because I know scripture.  I must worship Him first and allow the Spirit to guide and instruct me in God’s timing.  My quality time spent with Jesus determines the quality of fruit from my life. 
In studying Mark, I realize the disciples saw need, Jesus saw supply!  My thinking needs to constantly shift from my limited vision to His unlimited view.  He knows all.  He sees all.  And He surely knows the best time, the best way, and the next step for me that will be most advantageous for all concerned.
Worship first.  Spend time with Him, communing over His written word and listening for His voice.  Then I am equipped to accomplish His agenda instead of mine.  It’s a daily “one thing” that benefits not only me: I then take care of  “the cart.”
Jesus says, “Follow Me.  Be My disciple!” 
Daily choose to put the “horse before the cart!”





Prayer:
“Lord, in this moment, my soul rests in you.
This day, I choose You.
May it be so forever. Amen.” 



("Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest)" by Kari Jobe)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Seventh Symbol of the Jesse Tree: 12 Tribes of Israel

By
Image
Seventh Symbol of the Jesse Tree: 12 Tribes of Israel And Israel (previously named Jacob) had 12 sons who didn't all get along (despite their Father's dying attempt to gather them together for blessing and peace...). These sons became the 12 tribes of Israel. Genesis 49:1-28  God could have chosen any tribe or any family lineage--God could have skipped the family drama and tribal violence of the Old Testament tribes, but God chose to remain faithful to those ancient promises. God chose to root new  life and new  peace in a previously violent story. Praise be to God!  Just for fun: Which of the Twelve Tribes of Israel are you? (online personality quiz)  Tribe of Jesus: · Matthew 1:1–6 and Luke 3:31-34  describe Jesus as the tribe of Judah . ( “Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.” ~Revelation 5:5) ·   Mary, Jesus’ mother, was also related to ...
Read more

Eleventh Jesse Tree Symbol: Gideon's Clay Pitcher

By
Image
Eleventh Jesse Tree Symbol: Gideon's clay pitcher The Israelites enter the promised land, but the next generation stops worshipping God. When enemy armies attack and conquer them, the  Israelites turn back to God and cry out. God--in grace--raises up a judges (like Gideon) who leads Israel back to victory.  Gideon 6:11-16, 7:19-23 (or all of 6-8 if you're feeling ambitious)   Gideon--Peace by Karlie Harper I love the story of Gideon because it is an underdog story. In this story we see a man who is so full of doubt of himself that he does not recognize the Spirit of the Lord sitting right in front of him. For someone like me who battles doubt and anxiety, this story is particularly meaningful.  In the verses we see the Lord trying to build up Gideon’s courage by calling him a “might warrior” and telling him “Peace, do not be afraid”. But Gideon, not unlike myself, doesn’t listen to his Lord right away. If we read the story we go on to learn how Gideon—...
Read more

Twelfth Symbol of the Jesse tree: Ruth's wheat

By
Image
Jesse Tree Symbol #12: Ruth, shaft of wheat I n the days of the Judges, famine left an Israelite woman named Naomi widowed and without both her sons. As she moved back to her hometown, one daughter-in-law (Ruth) stayed with her. This  penniless  foreigner--this outsider--Ruth was cared for and brought in to the Israelite family tree... the roots of Christ  Ruth 1:6-9,15-18; 2:1-12 and 16 Matthew 1:1-5                                       Reflection b y Peg Powell After reading these passages in Ruth, I was reminded of one of my favorite stories. Long ago, there was a mayor who lived with his only son in the hills of China. None of them in this village owned a horse, but one day, out of the blue, a stallion appeared at the mayor’s home.  All of the people exclaimed, “How lucky you are.” The mayor said, “We’ll see.” A few days later, the stallion disa...
Read more