As always we at ITG have wanted to use our writings for truth, confession, healing and hopefully to minister to others so that as Paul says in Ephesians 4:15, “we will in all things grow up in Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” So in that thought I have a confession to make:
I am EXHAUSTED
I am EXHAUSTED from my calendar which has more things on it than hours in the day and more events that one human can do at one time. I am EXHAUSTED from work; the demands that a full-time, short-handed; on call rotation, doesn’t ever quite leave the brain type work. I am EXHAUSTED from what it takes to raise a family the right way with constant interaction, complete never lacking diligence in protection, spiritual guidance, supervision, provision, and being the Dad that I hope to be. I am EXHAUSTED from trying to maintain the proper health and lose weight by eating right and exercising and oh yea I already mentioned the part about trying to find time to do that. I am EXHAUSTED from the energy that a great marriage takes in sacrifice, communication, trying to date, trying to have a moment to talk without a kid climbing, running, upset, or needing. I am EXHAUSTED from constantly fighting Satan and his demons from their attacks of my own sin, this fallen world and its desires, and the constant pull of my flesh to flee from the things of God.
Again I am EXHAUSTED
However as I was reading my Bible this morning I received an email from a gentlemen that referenced a verse so I looked it up.
Nehemiah 4:14 (ESV)
14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
Could that be anymore of a charge, directive, command (or whatever word you want) from God? We are to FIGHT through exhaustion because the LORD is great and awesome not because it is easy or not because we wont fail at times but because He simply IS. So, today I am here to do as King Nebuchadnezzar did in the Book of Daniel. In chapter 4 after he witnessed the LORD deliver Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego he said this:
4 King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
So in my exhaustion I proclaim this: God is great and because of HIM, I have a beautiful wife, 4 amazing kids, my health to be able to exercise, a job so that I can provide, and a CREATOR that loves me enough to go to the cross despite my sin, failures, and times that I simply want to give up.
Thank you and Praise you GOD! You are “I AM”