LONELY VRS EMPTY!

Sunday’s Monday

      God has shown me this week that it’s time to share what I’ve learned this year about my confusion between lonely and empty. I have meditated on this subject for a number of days and I feel secure in the answer that I received. Let’s go to dictionary.com for a clarification between the two words. Lonely: 1- affected with, characterized by, or causing a depressing feeling of being alone; lonesome. 2- destitute of sympathetic or friendly companionship, intercourse, support, etc.. 1- Empty: containing nothing; having none of the usual or appropriate contents; 5- destitute of some quality or qualities; devoid (usually followed by sadness). These are similar in the fact that we are lacking something we’re fond of or used to. Ergo it’s not hard to see how we will confuse the two when we’re in lack.

      We are warned in 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT), Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. It is in such moments of confusion that our enemy will have us looking in the wrong direction when making decisions.  We might be looking for a partner when in fact we should be seeking spiritual encouragement. Now, I not saying this is true in every case but I am saying the divorce courts are full and the people living in less than desirable situations could have come from a wrong and avoidable decision. We have a tends to leave God out of the decisions because we don’t understand the seriousness of our dilemma. It’s cut and dried in our minds. We’re lonely and need a companion. Simplicity can often be deceiving! Look at 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NLT), But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.

      As many of you know, my dear sweet wife went home to Jesus in January, and I have spent the last 5 months in the hospital, rehab, and home because of health. I wasn’t angry with God for allowing my wife to go join Him, but there was a wedge between us, and I didn’t understand it. My whole life changed and I did nothing to be chastised for, at least not that bad. My spiritual life started to suffer as I slowly slipped away from my Jesus. My reading stopped, my praying became sporadic at best, my church life was nonexistent, and my joy in life was draining away. I was getting lonely and didn’t want any part of it. Finally, I started a dialog with Jesus about it and came to a rude awakening after a long while. God opened my eyes to the fact that my disappointment toward Him for Pat leaving was actually mine to bear, and to avoid ownership, I placed it on Jesus. Pat was the big winner in that contest, and the loneliness I felt wasn’t that at all; it was emptiness because I was missing the fellowship, encouragement, and personal contact of my brothers and sisters in Jesus. I didn’t desire a mate or a companion, I needed to be refilled with a uniting of my Holy Spirit with that of like believers! Psalms 133:1-3 (NLT), How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! 2- For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. 3- Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting.

      Father God, I thank you for you great long suffering with me and for teaching me how to pray. I thank you Father for the unity that you provide within the body of Christ. Lord, I pray from your word, Ephesians 1:17 (NLT), asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. May I learn to end my every request, “with you know what I’ve asked now,” please work it out to where it is pleasing to your sight. Amen

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!

Check out-------www.sundaysmonday.com------10/27/2024