Here we see a man who was so desperate to see Jesus that despite his own limitation he still went out of his way to make it possible. Often we can let limitations in our life prevent us from spending time with Jesus. We can let our busy lives dictate to us how much time we get with Jesus. Also, when Zacchaeus made a decision to push through the limitations before him, it results in a unique opportunity where Jesus came to his house for dinner. This was an opportunity that no other person in the crowd had. When we choose to go after God with everything we have, God will honour our efforts.
Prayer
Today God I want to go after you and not let anything hold me back.. I make a decision now to push past anything that will try to limit me and stop me from experiencing all of you.
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As I read through this devotion today, I realised that I need to be more like Zacchaeus and push through the things that I am allowing to limit me.
I've been struggling to get through the past few weeks, and worrying about how I'd get through the next 15 weeks. I've allowed myself to be convinced that it's just all too hard, and I began to question my competence and purpose. I mean, I've never worked in mental health before, and I really don't know anything about it. But it's not only that...I've allowed myself to get anxious about all the reading, all the assessment, and all the learning that I need to complete over this time, and how I'd never be able to understand any of it. Then, I went and let it seep into other areas of my life...I began to question my place in this world, my true purpose, where do I fit in, why am I here?
I found myself becoming more and more obsessed with the fact that I had nothing to offer, that I wouldn't ever get through, that I was useless. I reflected on the fact that I wasn't able to conceive a child, so therefore I had nothing to offer my husband; I was always getting sick, so therefore I'd never be able to work full time and would be a burden on my family, etc, etc, etc...noticing a pattern? Yeah...I was convincing myself that I was completely useless...I was speaking these words over my life and declaring them as truth, when in fact it is all lies. Lies that I've been telling myself. Lies that I've allowed to dictate my thoughts, my actions, my emotions...me!
But then after the 9:20 prayer session, the sermon at church today, and this devotion...I realised the truth. I am a child of the most high God. I am wonderfully and fearfully made! I have been placed on this earth and in this prac placement because it's exactly where God wants me to be. He has chosen me for such a time as this. He loves me for who I am, and what I have to offer. He is calling me to His side, asking me to draw near to Him, so that He can be my comforter, my counsellor, and my best friend!
The following one of the most inspiring, encouraging, uplifting verses that I know, and it has made me realise that God is definitely for me; He's in control and looking out for me, always:
"For you 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.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you." Psalm 139:13-18
I've also found these scripture to help me get through this time of pushing through my limitations; and, to remind me of God's great love, and of His purpose for my life:
- For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13
- "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 4:6-7
- "Come near to God and he will come near to you." James 4:8
- "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Phillipians 4:13
- "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5
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