BEATITUDE # 8

Welcome to Mondays with a Mission!

You may just shake your head and roll your eyes at me when I ask this question –

Do you ever feel overwhelmed?

YES!! I can raise my hand, stand up and shout, YES!

Recently I found myself experiencing the thoughts of –

Why do I do what I do? 

Why do I spend hours working on Prayer Pocket Ministry, on writing, on taping videos, on preparing for a Bible Study?

I was even at the time planning and preparing two big events that were in another state.

All these “things” seemed to be overwhelming me to the point of giving up.

How can I do all this and still be a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, friend – you know…

I’M OVERWHELMED WITH IT ALL!

How about you?

But, at that time for me – quickly and thankfully the Holy Spirit stepped in.

MATTHEW 5:10

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

What does this have to do with being overwhelmed –

Well I think – everything!

When we are called to ministry work – and that includes every believer – we must be prepared to be persecuted. To be attacked in all ways. Not just when we preach or write something that goes against the way others believe, but how we choose to raise our children, how we vote, how we stand for the unborn, we will be persecuted as long as we claim victory in Jesus Christ.

CHRIST IS OUR UMBRELLA OF PROTECTION

You know, Christ is our umbrella of protection. Just imagine being a downpour – think of it, not as rain, but a downpour of every day trials that happen because of – finances, children, health, our job, or looking for a job, divorce, addictions, so many emotions, so many problems that we must deal with.

So we are in this downpour – you have an umbrella of protection – do you use it? Do you call upon the name of Jesus to protect you, to guide you, to comfort you during this fierce storm?

Or do you let the umbrella hang down by your side, or even leave in the car.

Yes, we will be persecuted, and yes, we must pray for those who persecute us. Who have had a part in our feeling overwhelmed possibly.

To pray for those who persecute us can be a peaceful way to, not only acknowledge the persecution, and put it where it needs to be – in God’s hands – but to truly shake it off, to fill your heart with compassion for those who need Christ.

G3 Ministries, on their website, published an article on the Sermon on the Mount. Check them out on their website – G3 Ministries – here is a portion of that article.

“Followers of Christ have even greater confidence, but it isn’t because they are superstars and can rely on anything within themselves. Christians have peace, joy, and hope in the midst of the fiercest storms of life because they are moored to an unshakable anchor. Jesus Christ lived a perfect life in their place and then died a sinner’s death in their place. Now, he intercedes for them before God the Father. Those that are in Christ rest in the grace, mercy, power, and promises of their Savior. They know that he will not fail or falter.”

Check out G3 Ministries website at  https://g3min.org/

WHY AM I OVERWHELMED?

When I felt that OVERWHELMING feeling of Why do I do what I do the Holy Spirit gave me the ability to understand WHY I felt overwhelmed and even how to take one step at a time to accomplish what God wanted me to accomplish.

So, if you are experiencing that in any part of your life. Ask Jesus to lead you to the answers of WHY.

WHY am I feeling overwhelmed and how do I take the step to put things in place?

Is Satan at work to create confusion in a situation that you are in?

There is no confusion with Christ.

Is Satan at work to create hostility?

There is no hostility with Christ.

Is Satan at work to build a wall between you and a loved one?

Christ helps break down those walls.

Is Satan at work to make you feel you are unworthy?

Oh, how God loves you and finds you worthy because of what Christ did for you on the cross.

Don’t believe the lies Satan can throw at you.

As persecution comes hang on to the hem of His garment.

Hold on tight and let the overwhelming emotions slide off as you wait in His presence.

Waiting can be glorious.

Thank You, Jesus, for helping us to step through the valley of the overwhelming feeling that the world can throw on us. Guide us through the persecution which can stop us in our tracks when we need to hand it over to God and wait for His guidance. In Jesus name. Amen