Glory Seed Devotional 08/02/2012

A Glory Seed Devotional
Life is difficult but Jesus’ yoke is easy…

Dr. M. Scott Peck in his book Along the Road Less Traveled wrote, “Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept it-then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.” Perhaps another way of understanding what Dr. Peck is saying goes something like this, “When the going gets tough don’t worry about difficulties the tough get going.”

However, with all due respect to Dr. Peck when I think about what he is saying I wonder what am I do to about the difficulties because (for me) accepting the fact that life is difficult does not make it less difficult. And with all of the stress related health issues facing many people today perhaps I am not alone. Because of life difficulties I learned early in my Christian walk that “when the going gets tough and life becomes difficult the tough, “…look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the One who watches over you will not slumber.” (Psalms 121:1-3 NLT)

I think one of the greatest spiritual disciplines we need to work on EVERYDAY is the spiritual discipline of looking up. I don’t mean we go around with our heads facing the sky. What I mean is we keep the “eyes of our heart” focused not on our difficulties but on Jesus. And when we focus on Jesus rather than our difficulties, suddenly those difficulties become points where we engage the Holy Spirit and our difficulties become stepping stones to a deeper relationship with God.

Many who read this already keep the “eyes of their heart” focused on Jesus and transcend their difficulties if you are one of them then praise the Lord but please don’t forget you may encounter or know someone who doesn’t so if you do share your story with them.

Grace and PEACE!
Gary


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“Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.”