Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Dealing with Burnout

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Let the Praises Ring by Lincoln Brewster; No Not One by Christy Nockels; Love Came Down by Ben Cantelon; Healer by Kari Jobe.

Read:   Psalm 15:1-3; Psalm 25:4-6; Proverbs 12: 18-20

Think:  Replace Lies with Truth.  This was one of the principles that Pastor Ben provided this weekend to re-energize our lives.  What I found most interesting however was how Elijah told several truths to the Lord, but then greatly exaggerated his circumstances .  I think Ben used the word that he (Elijah) “catastrophized” the situation,  and in essence lied to the Lord.

We can all probably look back when we were young and remember some of the exaggerations we would implore our parents with:

• “but Mom all the other kids in school get to stay up late”
• “I am the only one who always has to go to Sunday school”
•  “you must love my brother more than me”

It’s easy to remember the broad declarations of our youth, and how foolish they now sound, but we can just as easily slip into this kind of thinking 20, 30, 40, 50 years beyond our childhood.    Maybe you have heard these more “mature” grandiose pronouncements”:

• “I  always get the short end of the stick at work”
• “you never show me the respect I deserve”
• “I will never find love”

These also look pretty silly when they are in black and white, but I can honestly say I have uttered each of these statements on more than one occasion.  As Ben pointed out, these exaggerations are really lies.  Lies that fail to recognize and acknowledge that our Lord is our Miraculous Provider, our Miraculous Protector….He is all that I really need.  What I really need to do is spend a whole lot less time in self pity and exaggeration, and a whole lot more time in praise and thankfulness of God’s grace, compassion and love in my life. 

Today’s readings are just a small sample of passages in the Bible that speak of truth (truth is mentioned over 400 times).  What is evident is that we serve and worship a God of truth.  May we be more and more like His Son with each passing day.  Walking in His truth.

Do:  Take a look at your words today.  Are they truthful?  Do you stretch the truth sometimes to make things bigger, more urgent than they really are?  Do you trust God with the outcomes no matter what your current circumstances are?   

Pray: Heavenly Father you are a God of truth and wisdom. You have great plans for me beyond my current understanding. Help me to fully trust in You, and Your outcomes for my life.  Help me to be truthful in all things.  Examine my words today and may they speak of Your truth. In Jesus name I pray.  Amen. 

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

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