OVERWHELMED?

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A couple years ago I volunteered to teach in our Alternative School, where students are sent to us because they could not make it in the “regular” public high school. They come here because of fighting, drugs, carrying weapons, truancy or failing classes. Often, they are ordered by the court to attend and are not real happy about being here. It is pretty much up to the teachers to come up with innovative ways to keep order in our classrooms. We are told that we need to learn to be tolerant with these students disrespect and bad language, because many of them have given up hope of being “normal” and just don’t care about what they say or do. One day, about two weeks into the semester I WAS OVERWHELMED. NOTHING I SAID OR DID WAS WORKING, so out of desperation, I said “Lord, what am I going to do to reach these heathens?” The Lord spoke to me in His wonderful still small voice and said:

“Be still and know that I AM GOD. I WILL BE EXALTED among the heathen.” (Psalms 46:10) [The next morning, I started the daily practice of anointing the door posts and chairs in my room and ASKING THE LORD TO HELP ME TO BE OVERWHELMED WITH THE “AWESOMENESS” OF GOD AND NOT THE “AWFULNESS” OF THE STUDENT’S ATTITUDE. It wasn’t long until things miraculously turned around and then I saw God’s wonderful calming presence in the lives of these students. BEING OVERWHELMED IS A TEMPTATION FOR US TO STOP TRUSTING GOD AND JUST GIVE UP. David said:] “Hear my cry, O God; ATTEND UNTO MY PRAYER…I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I…thou hast been A SHELTER FOR ME, AND A STRONG TOWER FROM THE ENEMY.” (Psalms 61:1-3) [David realized that God was so much bigger than his problems. GOD WAS HIS PROTECTION AGAINST ANY TYPE OF DANGER. God was his strong “fortress” AND WOULD WITHSTAND ALL ATTACKS OF THE ENEMY. Instead of being overwhelmed by the attacks of the enemy, LET’S BE OVERWHELMED in our God who knows our heart, our thoughts, and our words before we speak them.] “Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.” (Psalms 139:4) [LET’S BE OVERWHELMED with our Abba Father, who knows:] “…WHEN I SIT AND WHEN I RISE; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You hem me in behind and before, and YOU LAY YOUR HAND UPON ME.” (Psalms 139:2, 5) [LET’S BE OVERWHELMED with the fact that even if we try to run from God:] “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, YOUR RIGHT HAND WILL HOLD ME FAST.” (Psalms 139:9, 10) [LET’S BE OVERWHELMED with our Abba Father, who:] “…created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalms 139:13, 14) [LET’S BE OVERWHELMED with the Creator of all things, who recorded His purpose for our lives before we were formed:] “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book BEFORE ONE OF THEM CAME TO BE.” (Psalms 139:16) [LET’S BE OVERWHELMED with our God who loved us so much:] “…he gave his one and only Son, THAT WHOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) *****************Be blessed as you praise The Lord, KNOWING THAT HE ALWAYS CARES FOR US TODAY! – Bill Stockham