Do you want to be well-watered today? If I were to rephrase it in a less eloquent way I would ask: do you want to be renewed and strengthened? Isn’t life hard? Some days seem they will never end, and some go by too quickly. Our own troubles could reach the sky if we were to name them one by one, and we can most certainly bring these before the Father. Yet, something more promising, more reassuring and pleasant are the cries of God’s people on behalf of each other. Today, friends, let us remember we are not alone in our sufferings and trials. Do not be fooled into thinking you are left to yourself in this—how plain is God’s word in this area! “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
There is a secret that scripture lets us in on, and it has been one of my most treasured mysteries on days where my feet feel a little (or a lot!) heavier than normal, and I am tempted to turn inward and look solely at my discouragements and pains. Lean in and listen, sister:
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail” (Isaiah 58:6-11).
Indeed, I know it is so very tempting to wallow and plead solely for yourself, but today I encourage you to get outside of yourself, hold fast to the trustworthy promise of God’s faithfulness to you, and remember the mind of Christ (which is yours, O saved one! [Philippians 2:5]) that considered Himself not, so that we might be considered fully for the beautiful salvation of our souls and the ushering in of His glorious kingdom!
Do what you have to. Make a list. Pray out loud. Take a walk. In this, do not forget the privilege of setting aside what ails you, however great or small, and emptying yourself as you plead for those around you. Make great petitions to The Lord today, sister, but not about you. I promise you will be satisfied. More than that, the Lord promises you. Do you see the joy of forgetting your own sufferings that you might encourage others in theirs? I can taste it and I can see it. That’s where the Spirit of Christ is, and oh, I want to be more like Him in this! Will you join me in this worthy pursuit? Let’s step into this privilege together.