Sons & Daughters... Oh, the Privileges!

We all remember the story of the Prodigal. He wanted his inheritance early. He wasted it away with rioutous living and found himself at the end of his journey eating with the swine. He humbles himself and asks to come back as a hired servant. His father pulls out all the stops and has a huge celebration for the prodigal son, killing the fatted calf. This is the story we always focus on but in prayer God reminded me of the other brother. He was not so happy about this celebration. He tells the father, "Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf."

It's the typical sibling statement, NOT FAIR! I love what the father tells him:

Luke 15:31 "And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine."

That sounds really familiar. We don't fully take advantage of our privileges as sons and daughters of God. We don't receive all He has for us because we don't even realize nearly all the benefits we have as His children.

Psalm 103:20 " Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."

Psalm 68:19 "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation."

Psalm 81:10 "...open they mouth wide and I will fill it."

Expectation... what are we expecting? We receive what we expect. How big are we willing to believe? Remember Matthew 13:58, "And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief."

Matthew 21:22 "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

He says we must come as a child...

Luke 18:17 "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein."

Let's not make it harder than it is. Children don't lie awake wondering if their parents paid the light bill or bought groceries for the week. They just lay down in peace knowing that they will wake up with all their needs met. They enjoy the journey. Let's enjoy the journey. Don't sweat the details. Sure, we have to do our part, but let's lay our burdens on our Father. He can handle it. We are His children. He loves us. It's that simple. Don't forget who you are.

Words Can't Hurt Me

Have you ever had someone just lash out at you verbally? It is so hurtful, especially when it is without cause. This has happened to me more times than I care to count. I have to remind myself many times that "hurting people hurt people." More importantly, I have to remind myself to get into His Presence and let Him make all things new.

Psalm 31:20 "Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues."

There in His Presence I am safe from "the strife of tongues." Nothing can harm me there. In that safe place, I am not affected by hurtful words and opinions of others. Hide me, Lord. I rest in the shadow of your Presence.