A FIT OF THE ‘ME’S!

2 Samuel 19:4 The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

There had been a big battle and David’s son Absalom was killed, along with many others who had died while his faithful people had won a great victory. They had given their lives to fight the enemy, but all David could see was the death of his own estranged son, who had even tried to take his father’s throne off him not long before!

He had a right to grieve but Joab told him he was showing his people he couldn’t care less about their grief or their victory, couldn’t have cared if they had all died if only his son Absalom had lived! They’d all crept home as though they’d done something wrong. Straight talking!

You see David was having a fit of the ‘me’s! What about me Lord! What about what I prayed for, what I wanted! Why didn’t it happen the way I wanted? I’m upset, I’m disappointed, I’m hurt, I, I, I, me, me, me! Have you ever been there? I know I certainly have!

Sometimes we need someone like Joab to help us see it’s not all about us, it’s about the bigger picture. It’s about what God is doing in all our lives, His purposes being worked out for the good of all, not only us.

God hears all our prayers, His heart is always to bless us but because He sees the end from the beginning and He always knows what is best for us, things sometimes unfold that we don’t understand or like! But it comes back to trusting our loving Father to do what’s best for us all.😊

In vs 7-8 we see David still had to be king and behave like one, he had to get over himself and God helped him to arise and go and sit in the gate so all the people could see he was still king. 

In the same way, God helps all of us to get over our fit of the me’s and gives us the grace to move on, to let go of whatever we were so upset about and believe for the next step to fulfil whatever God has planned for us. 

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Lord, help us do our part, to be willing to get over ourselves, to change our perspective. Even when we don’t understand help us to trust You, to be an Overcomer, and do like David and arise and go on to win many battles in the future with Your help and for Your glory. Amen.

TIME FOR UPDATES

John 15:1-2 NLT “ “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.

I was in the middle of reading my What’sApp messages when it suddenly popped up that I needed to update it as this version was stopping in a few days! If I wanted to continue I needed to update!

I think our Christian life is a bit like that. If we want to continue walking by faith and not by sight, to follow the Good Shepherd and allow Him to lead us along the paths He wants us to go, and to produce fruit, then you and I need constant updates.😊

Jesus said it this way, ‘He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.’ You could say God updates us so we bear more fruit.

John 15:4 NLT Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. When we don’t stay connected to Him we wither and dry up and we struggle, but God says even in old age we will be green and full of sap, if we stay connected! 

God gets glory when we bear fruit and as long as we abide in Him we shall be like Isaiah 58:11 NLT The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. In other words, He will update and refresh us!😊

God wants His love and joy and peace to fill us up which is what abiding looks like. He wants us to have regular updates so His power can flow.

So where do we go to be updated? We go to the water of the Word, which nourishes and keeps us strong and vibrant. We go to the throne of grace every day for mercy and grace. 

Updates protect our computer equipment from viruses and bugs and we need updates for the same reason, so we don’t become infected by the world or bugged by the enemy! 

So if you’re feeling a bit sluggish and dry lately, let me encourage you get reconnected and go for your update today.😊 In Jesus name. Amen.