Meditate
“Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” Haggai 1:5–6
“The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1
Sing
He’s All I Need
He’s all I need
He’s all I need
Jesus is all I need
He’s all I need
He’s all I need
Jesus is all I need
Message
You may have heard it said that we hear and see things through the filters of life. This means that everything we hear and see passes through the experiences of our lives. For example: if we have experienced condemnation then compliments are hard to accept as they pass through the filter of low self-worth. Sometimes, our filters are just not mature enough and we simply do not understand what we hear. When I was young, we would read Psalm 23 and it always made me shake my head. I just did not understand why we would say such things. You see, I had been taught God is good and this was saying to me that “The Lord was my Shepherd and I do not want him.” At least that is how I understood it. It was quite some time before I realized that a better way to say it is: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not BE IN want.” Now that made sense!
It also does not make sense when God’s people worry and fret over what they do not have or what they think they need. If we claim Jesus as Lord and we put our trust in him, why do we worry? As Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on… which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?… Why are you anxious about clothing?… Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’… Our heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you… Do not be anxious about tomorrow…” (Mat 6:25-34).
If we worry or are anxious, we need to let God clean the filters that we use to process what we hear and see. These filters are cleansed of the dirt and grime of life by letting God wash us in His Word. We need to read and study the Scripture, be in prayer, worship and praise God often, attend church, and be in a small covenant group. If we are seeking the Kingdom of God, he will take care of the needs of life.
Blessing
Go to the store and buy some nice new clothes, food or household items and give them to someone in need. Do not give them leftovers. Be the hands and feet of God in providing what is needed while this person seeks the Kingdom of God.
Move
Read Psalm 23, and act it out.
Create
Draw and cut out 10 circles. In 5 of them, write things that you worry about. In the other 5, write ways that God wants you to seek after His Kingdom. Draw a line through the first 5 to note that you are no longer going to do that. Post the 10 circles in places where you will see them around your house. Acknowledge that which you are no longer focusing on and that which you will now seek after.
Nourish
Prepare your food and take two minutes to praise and thank God before eating.
Rest
Find 10 minutes to be still. Do nothing during this time. This is God’s time to renew you in mind, body and spirit.
Recreation
If you know of a parent who needs a break, offer to take the kids to McDonald’s playground. Buy them some fries and let them play. Do not worry about it. Just seek God.
Pray
Pray for those who do not have their basic needs met. Be thankful for all that God has provided you.
Snacks
Share your snack with someone who is alone.
World Prayer
Find your CFO Worldwide directory or go to the website and pray for CFO camps around the world. Pray that CFO makes a difference in the world for the Kingdom of God.
Sleep
Count your blessings as you fall asleep.
From morning until night, God wants us to worship and commune with Him. Start your day in His Word and then weave throughout the day these elements of devotion, worship, contemplation and service to others.
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LYRICS CREDIT:
Used with permission: “He’s All I Need” CFO Sings, pg. 167
