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Reflections of the Spirit
“Thorns of the Flesh”
“The Big Snare”
Cares
By: Leta La Monde Christian
… “these are they which are sown among thorns;
such as hear the word,
And the cares of this world,
and the deceitfulness of riches,
and the lusts of other things entering in,
choke the word,
and it becometh unfruitful.”
Mark 4:18-19
Let’s get real and let’s get serious today. The topic of thorns of the flesh is an extremely deep and exhausting subject, of whom very few address. This is my humble attempt at doing so. This most likely will take a few articles, but in doing so I pray they might both: encourage and provoke you to examine further on your own. As well as create an deep earnest desire in your heart to draw closer to the LORD.
I have come to the conclusion that we won’t make it, if we are consumed with such. So, let’s talk about the cares of this world, riches and lusting for things. What does this yield? Look at the above picture. Looks like sticky yuck. Imagine not being able to walk in an easy stride because gum is stuck to your foot. Think about it. This can easily be considered an idiom; gum stuck to my foot, meaning I’m having difficulty walking. Has this ever happened to you? It’s happened to me a number of times. Or see yourself lined up at the beginning of a race. You get your momentum going. Shoulders back, inhaling and exhaling in perfect rhythm, and suddenly you stumble, and then you fall. What will you do then?
I would compare the two as cares that inhibit movement and advancement towards the goal you have in front of you. It’s inhibiting you. One slows you down and the other completely stops you and causes you to have to make a decision as to what to do next.
Now one more; which will take a minute to describe, but my aim is to give focal points of reference and their meanings.
The Bird The Snare
and
The Oil
Try to picture this. One day while going down the steps of my apartment building, my son brought to my attention a tiny bird (about 3 inches in length) that was caught in a mouse trap. It was the sticky glue type. I’m sure you see where I’m going with this. You should have seen it’s little face as it struggled. The more it struggled to get free, the more its feathers attached themselves to the glue.
I watched it for a couple of seconds, un-noticed by the bird. I watched. I’d never seen such a sight. As I watched I realized the Spirit was showing me a message. I prayed because I wanted to help this little creature get free. It was so tiny and fragile looking, so I knew if I went about trying to free it the wrong way, I would do more harm than good.
Asking the Lord what to do, I googled it. Their suggestion was in three parts. First cover the bird’s head with a clean cloth so that it could not see me. Next, pour oil on the places that had been caught in the snare. Lastly, work the oil into those ensnared places to loosen and free the bird.
As I approached the little one you could see the terror gripping its little heart. When I first saw it and for a couple of seconds it saw me. It looked at me as if it were saying, please help me. Now as it saw me approaching it; this time, picking it up, you could see the fright of this little thing.
I immediately covered its head with the cloth and poured oil on the places that were stuck to the glue. After massaging it in; the little one was freed, and hopped across the yard. Now it did have the oil on it. I could see it trying to clean itself. I checked on it later and it was gone. I can’t say that I actually saw it fly away, but I do hope that it was able to recuperate and be on its way.
Such is it when we become ensnared with the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches and the lust of the other things (flesh), causing other things to enter (What are these other things? This just might be another study). This is why He says it causes the Word to be choked out and become ineffective.
In summary, if I were to compare this tiny bird, the sticky gum stuck on the sole of my shoe, and the stumbling and falling in a race, I see one thing they all have in common. They were ensnared by a care, and by His hand and by His Spirit He delivers us and provides for all our needs. Think of the little bird, and how the Father heard its cry for help and sent us to help it. He sees, He knows, and He cares. So we need not despair when things come into our lives and attempts to draw our focus away from the word.
I looked up the Greek word for care and found it quite interesting and it solidifies for me, why the Lord spoke quite often about it. Here’s the definition.
G3308
μέριμνα
merimna
mer'-im-nah
From G3307 (through the idea of distraction); solicitude: - care. (by: Esword)
Remember how the Lord said for us to consider the birds of the air how they neither toil nor till, but our Father in Heaven cares for them…. In remembering this scripture I see how the Father provided care and relief for this tiny creature, and in doing so, he showed me just how much He cares for us and does the same for us, when we our surrounded by cares.
He warns us not to take care or worry about what we’re going to eat or what we’re going to wear. Let’s put it into today’s vernacular. Stop worrying about and chasing after the big bucks. Don’t concern yourself (now this is a hard one) when someone slights you. Don’t allow fear or bitterness to grip your heart because of things that are going on in the world (He’s already told us that these things will happen, and not to fear when we see them). Don’t become down in the mouth because your family or friends have left you, because of your faith. Don’t be offended because of evil that someone has done towards you or a loved one.
I am speaking from personal experience! These are cares and concerns that we are all faced with, and sometimes bombarded with on a daily basis. Remember what we are to do, because doing the opposite will definitely choke out the word that you so eagerly received.
The Lord said, instead of worrying about things, to seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all these things will be added to you.
“Therefore I say unto you,
Take no thought for your life,
what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink;
nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.
Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air:
for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns;
yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.
Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you, by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
And why take ye thought for raiment?
Consider the lilies of the field,
how they grow;
they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you,
That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore,
if God so clothe the grass of the field,
which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven,
shall he not much more clothe you,
O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought,
saying, What shall we eat?
or,
What shall we drink?
or,
Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:)
for your heavenly Father
knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow:
for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:25-34
Cast your Carees
It is said that it takes 30 days to develop a habit; as well as, it take 30 days to break a habit. If you determine now to take note of what concerns your heart and make the commitment to no longer carry, but to cast your cares upon the Lord. Let’s see what will happen when you do this and begin to purposefully focus on Him and the Kingdom.
Instead of allowing the situation to consume your mind causing the power of the word to become of noneffect, pray and focus on the Kingdom of God. Focus on Jesus (Yeshua) and the kingdom. Know and learn to trust Him in all things. Giving and yielding your heart, mind, soul and strength to Him, not life’s circumstances. Know that He will work it all out. He has promised this.
I am surely aware of the things we have to face on planet earth today. I live here too my brothers and sisters. The Savior has a plan, and it’s our job to follow His plan. We are not alone. We have the Comforter dwelling in us. We have each other as well. Let’s remember to pray for one another. Be supportive of each other. Reach out to each other. Fellowship as much as possible with one another. We all need each other and we are all a part of the body of Christ. His Church. His Bride, nourishing, supporting and loving one another.
It says to count these things joy. It doesn’t say to worry about them. Yes, there are some things we personally bring into our lives which can reap concern, but remember there is nothing in our lives that the Father is not aware of. This may be difficult to say; personally, He allows these things for our growth. It’s what we do with these situations as they present themselves into our lives that matter. Will you take it in and obsess about how this or that will turn out? Will you murmur and complain? Will you try to handle it yourself, possibly making matters worse? Or, will you count it joy? Knowing your Father and Savior knows all about it, and is working it out for your good. Remember, trust in the LORD with all your hearts, and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.
I may be saying things, and some of you may feel discouraged. Please don’t be. We all have to start somewhere. I truly believe the Lord led me to share this topic with you so that you can be more aware of the vices of the devil and how the influence of the world yields loss.
On a personal note. I mentioned that I too live on planet earth. I am what some may consider elderly, but I beg the differ. Being someone who is almost 70 years old, I’ve been through it. I want to be as truthful as possible so that you may know the severity of carrying cares. Unfortunately, I am like many these days. Someone who has suffered many things. These things and wrong people were allowed in my life by yours truly. As a result I have carried these things in my mind, my body and in my heart. This can not only physically cause me to lose my life because of such stressors, but it can and will spiritually cause me to lose my eternal life with Christ, because it separates my mind from thinking on Him and the Kingdom. It’s that serious.
As a result, I have experienced trauma and anxiety, sleepless nights and unbelievable depression for years, because I didn’t see what the Lord was teaching. Yes, I read the scripture and prayed and so forth, but my realization to the truth wasn’t there, and I allowed life’s cares to choke out the word, and I didn’t grow in the Kingdom, because my mind was focused on the world. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that’s what I was doing.
I now cast these cares on the Lord, and I know that by His grace, I will be healed of these things that brought me harm. That’s just it. As the Lord spoke to Paul, when he asked him to remove the thorn from his flesh, Christ said my grace is sufficient. And it is.
So, don’t be discouraged. Take heart. If you are now feeling overwhelmed, take one step at a time. Take a deep breath, and with the Holy Spirit’s leading begin possibly by taking a good look at what may be cares in your life. Examine them, and one by one with the help of the Holy Spirit give your cares to the Lord. Pray, for He does care. If He didn’t he would not have become a sacrifice for our sins, so that you can be reconciled to the Father through Him. So don’t allow cares of the world to block your relationship with the Father and with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Yeshua).
Ask for grace and the anointing of the Holy Spirit to get your minds set on Him, and not on the circumstances of life. The one who dwells in you will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Yeshua).
Allow me to pray. LORD creator of Heaven and earth. I praise you and thank you for my brothers and sisters. I ask that your grace will rest on them. I also ask that your Shalom, Shalom surround them and dwell in them.
Father please help my brothers and sisters. Give them ears to hear and a heart to understand why the Lord taught so much about this one topic. Show them in Your word and in their day to day lives how much you care for them, and are watching over them.
You prophesied through the Psalmist David that you will perfect all things that concern our salvation. We acknowledge the truth of Your word. You are the fountain of Life. Thank you Father for life. We will follow your ways; and in trusting You, we know that you will work all things out for our good.
Father we place all of our cares in your hands, knowing that you love us, and have called us according to you tender loving mercies, and Father please forgive us for allowing ourselves to worry and not obeying the words of the Lord, which is to cast all our cares upon Him. So please forgive us.
We all say: I am done carrying cares. I will no longer wrestle with what I’ve been commanded not to do. I put this behavior behind me, and will learn to do as Christ has said to do in all things.
Thank you Father for hearing this prayer. In Jesus name (in Yeshua’s name). Amen
It’s time to learn and develop a new way of thinking. So think on this:
Be careful for nothing; but in everything
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Php. 3:13-14
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:6-9 KJV
Let’s learn Christ’s way of thinking and put our old ways behind us. Amen
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