May19

Words of Wisdom
Stop Striving
‘He decides who will rise and who will fall’ Psalm 75:7 NLT
If you don’t find your significance and self-worth in your
relationship with God, you’ll be tempted to spend your life trying to
promote yourself. And that will make you insecure – and
dangerous. Why? Because when others get promoted ahead of
you, you’ll become resentful; you
may even try to tear them down.
In God’s kingdom you don’t
achieve success on your own,
you receive it from God. ‘God is
the judge: he putteth down one,
and setteth up another’ (KJV).
While David’s brothers were
striving to be Israel’s next king
and ‘get the nod’ from the
prophet Samuel, David just kept
tending his sheep and doing the
job God gave him. Let others
compete and compare! Just stay faithful in what God has given
you to do – and when the time is right He’ll come and get you!
Jesus said ‘My yoke is easy, and my burden is light’ (Matthew
11:30 KJV).
Note the word ‘easy’. That doesn’t mean you won’t have to work
hard or sacrifice in order to succeed. It just means you won’t have
to strive to get it, or keep it. Why? Because when God sets ‘before
you an open door’ (Revelation 3:8 NIV) He’s the only one who can
shut it. And He won’t do that unless, like King Saul, you’re
rebellious, resentful, or refuse to repent.
Knowing God is in control takes the strain out of serving Him.
When you think about it – it’s the only way to live.
This is reproduced with kind permission from United Christian Broadcasters (UCB)
Word for Today. Copies can be obtained from them at UCB Operations Centre,
Westport Road, Stoke on Trent, ST6 4JF
They can be reached on 0845 6040401 or at www.ucb.co.uk