Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Day 75 - Do Not Muzzle the Ox

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 222
         
Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

Notice:  this email is part of a BLOG, called Living Life With a Capital “C”Why a blog?  So that many can receive these thoughts in an easy manner.  If you are not getting these weekly postings via an email, go to the website: www.leemccm.blogspot.com …in the top right corner there is a place to register to receive each post.


In this hurried and hectic day and time (often brought on by our crazy decisions) we find ourselves far too often spending too little “time apart” with the Lord.  I appreciate Michael’s thoughts on this issue…



DAY 75

Do Not Muzzle the Ox


Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain. --Deuteronomy 25:4

We are commanded not to muzzle the ox, a passage applied to the fact that a workman is worthy of his hire. However, in talking with many believers, I believe that it also can apply to our spiritual lives in a different way. In many of the countries that I visit, the people are working seven days a week. In Asia they are only now thinking of reducing to six-day workweeks. In the West, the cost of living has gotten to the point that both husband and wife must work, often only passing by one another sometime during the day. These situations have spiritually muzzled believers. We are not given the time of refreshing before the Lord that we need. We are not allowed to eat of the Lord. It is not right. Every believer needs to take time away. If Jesus took time apart, then we, His disciples, surely need it. Time apart with the Lord is not a luxury but a necessity.

One summer I finished my travels with a total of five days off from January to July; only a day here and there between trips did I have in which to prepare for the next trip. In the end I could not hold a cup of coffee without shaking. I took two weeks in the mountains to do nothing but pray. The tremors stopped, I was energized, and I was fresh in the Lord. I am seeing this as something every believer needs, not just half an hour in the morning but a few days away from others. I know that thought may be shocking to those who cannot imagine doing anything without their mates. However, everyone’s place is in the hub of life with the Lord alone; it would be good for them to remember that wives or husbands first and foremost belong to the Lord. Concentrated time with Him will change everything. Everyone needs time to step back and watch what falls apart; those things were of man, and everything that stays is of His making. Believers would find that they can continue working if they are not muzzled.

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory



Michael gives me some very critical points that I need to be careful to take heed of:
1.  I NEED to take time away.
2.  My time apart with the Lord IS NOT a luxury but a necessity.
3.  Time apart, including some “days,” and not just some “minutes” each day.
4.  Concentrated time with the Lord changes everything.

Then, Michael draws attention to something I, along with others, need to become more aware of…and look for: “watch what falls apart; those things were of man, and everything that stays is of His making.”  Wow!  Easy to observe.  Why would it be difficult to acknowledge?

Through it all, I do not want to be “muzzled” to any extent that it would keep me from working as God leads…



To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www .leemccm.blogspot.com 

NOTICE: another blog on Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the Wilderness.  You can access by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com


Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

No comments:

Post a Comment