“Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain . . .”
(Psalm 127:1a)
Visit The 160 Acre Woods and let Amydeanne and the other bloggers uplift you with their timely Word-filled posts.Devotion: Striving Versus Abiding
by Os Hillman
What does it mean for the Lord to build the house? It almost seems a contradiction when we consider that we might be the builders in this passage. God wants us to allow Him to build the house. He explains further:
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for He grants sleep to those He loves (Psalm 127:1-2).
God is telling us there is a way of working without striving. There is a way to conduct business without sweating and toiling for outcome. His warning to each of us is to avoid thinking that outcome is based on our sweat and toil. Outcome is based on obedience. That outcome is sometimes more than we deserve. Sometimes it is less than we hoped for. His desire for each of us is to see Him working in our daily work life. He wants us to avoid looking to our own effort to gain an outcome.
One day Jesus called out to Peter from the shore of the lake and suggested he throw his net on the other side of the boat. It was this simple act of obedience that yielded a tremendous catch that he would not have received unless he obeyed.
We are called to work; He is called to bring forth the fruit. He is the vine. We are the branches. Fruit comes forth naturally from a healthy tree.
Prayer
Father show us when we enter into striving. Show us the difference between loving trust and obedience versus striving for a certain outcome. Help us to walk in your freedom and rest.
Excerpt quoted from Crosswalk's Daily Email "Today God Is First" Devotion by Os Hillman.
Related: Finding True Rest by Nancy Leigh DeMoss at ROH
Photo: orvarati (Flickr)
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18 Comments:
Awesome WFW.
psalm 127:2 is one of my favorite verses. in the commentary in my bible it says that one alternate wording of the verse is " for he gives to his beloved while they sleep" which seems to make more sense to me. and i *love* that word picture... the foolishness of us striving and wearing ourselves out, while all the time he'll give to us, supply our needs while we are sleeping- in a state completely devoid of productivity.
God is just so cool♥
Outcome is based on obedience.
Mmmm. . a very good word today, e-Mom.
Great word E-mom.
Letting the LORD build...
It's so easy to try and build ourselves. I guess as women we want to MAKE sure things get done!
And then we begin striving, because we are not allowing GOD to do what He disires.
When will I learn?
I don't want to be like the foolish woman who tore it down, with "her own hands".
Thanks, I needed this!
Very nice! God Bless you!
Love it! Great devo, too. Happy WFW!
A sorely needed reminder for me! Thank you!
Beautiful choice of picture and verse........and strong devo
Blessed WFW
Bernice
that is so good..
thanks for sharing today
Sweet!
~dd
I'm glad I stopped by...this is great and that image is really great!
Thanks for sharing!
peace,
lori
That verse always reminds me of the Sunday School song about the wise man who built his house upon the rock. I'm so glad for our Rock!
I loved this E-mom.. and amazing photo today too! wow, that one took my breath away.
Wonderful word for me at this very moment. Love how God can work that out. I definitely rise early and stay up late and work very hard--not necessarily a bad thing, but I often do that out of fear that God will not Himself provide what I need.
A timely reminder for me. I always want to control what's going on and waste far too much time going over and over things - such a waste of energy.
Thanks! I needed to hear this!
Denise, Persuaded, Tami, Susan, Bogi, Lauri Ann, LauraLee, Godsown, DeeDee, Lori, Belleeza, Amydeanne, Jennifer, Buffy, & Sue: Thank you all for stopping by, and for leaving such nice comments. Happy WFW!
Amen! Just now getting around to doing my WFW visits...Yours is awesome and I love your insights. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful weekend! = )
I find your post really interesting. I would love to hear more about this kind of thing. I always feel like I'm striving and I know there must be another way, but I don't seem to be able to find it. It makes sense to me in my brain, when I hear you say it, but translating that into action in my everyday life is another thing altogether.
I am going to print out your post and meditate and pray more on it tonight, maybe God will bless me with a breakthrough so I can stop striving and getting nowhere.
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