Monday’s tend to be my grocery shopping day. I don’t mind shopping, but I hate bringing home the bags and carrying them into the house. I’m one of those people who always feels the need to try and bring in all the bags at once. I don’t know why I do this, other than the fact I’m too lazy to make another trip to the car. You would think I would learn my lesson of why this isn’t a good idea, but I don’t. By the time I get to the door, my hands are killing me! I have to set all the bags down to grab my keys, reclaim the feeling in my hands, unlock the door, and pick up all the bags again and carry them into the house.
The other thing I find myself doing, which also causes me pain in my hands, is when I clench my fists as I walk. I don’t even know how this started, but I catch myself doing it when my walk gets intense. The pain becomes so intense I have to open my hands slowly to help ease my pain.
Have you ever held onto something so long it makes your hands hurt? Whether it is grocery bags, your car keys or cell phone they can all become painful. Sometimes, it doesn’t take long at all to hold something to make your hands hurt. Often it is the weight of what we are carrying which becomes the culprit of our pain or how tightly we are holding onto it. When we clench our hands firmly to objects this means we can’t use our hands for anything else.
God’s desire is our hands would always be open for Him so He can place new things in our hands. When we hang on tight to things which cause us pain we close ourselves off to God. The weight of what we are carrying begins to have other effects on us beyond the physical, but also emotionally and spiritually. It even changes our countenance. It makes us sad, frustrated, angry and bitter.
What are you carrying that is painful, frustrating or weighing you down? It is difficult to allow Christ to shine within your heart and “Be the Sparkle” God desires you to be, when you can’t yield yourself to Him. I know everyone isn’t like me, but the other thing I find difficult to do with my hands closed, is to praise Him. It is difficult for me to engage with God when I am feeling trapped by what I am carrying in my hands and ultimately in my heart. God’s longing for each of us is to give those things over to Him so we can stand freely with our hands wide open. This is when God can take our burdens FROM us and carry them FOR us! How beautiful is the surrender of our soul when we allow God to make us whole!
I’m going to ask you to stop where you are and pray. Open your hands and lift your arms! If there is something you are holding onto tightly, “Let it Go!” Whenever you feel your hands getting full with the angst of worry, regret or fear…Open your hands to God and allow Him to hold it for you…. Let God melt your heart and free you from your burdens. This will bring on a whole new attitude of joy, peace and contentment because the heaviness of your heart is lifted. You don’t have to be worried about picking up those burdens again, God has them close to His heart…..just like YOU! I’m excited to see the new things God will replace which will bring you joy, peace, contentment and most of all His love radiating through you!
Reach Out to God
Still, if you set your heart on God
and reach out to him,
If you scrub your hands of sin
and refuse to entertain evil in your home,
You’ll be able to face the world unashamed
and keep a firm grip on life, guiltless and fearless.
You’ll forget your troubles;
they’ll be like old, faded photographs.
Your world will be washed in sunshine,
every shadow dispersed by dayspring.
Full of hope, you’ll relax, confident again;
you’ll look around, sit back, and take it easy.
Expansive, without a care in the world,
you’ll be hunted out by many for your blessing.Job 11:13-19 (MSG)
