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Start in worship:

The Devo:

Prov. 27:5-6, "It’s better to be corrected openly if it stems from hidden love. You can trust a friend who wounds you with his honesty, but your enemy’s pretended flattery comes from insincerity."

A friend of mine told me a personal anecdote that happened to him many years ago and I have repeated the lesson to many people over the years. The lesson is simple but profound and can help you enter into rest. We often have this skewed picture of ourselves that continually needs to be defended and supported by the praise of others.

Our insecurities cry out for recognition and we strive to be seen rather than be the servant that Jesus modeled and encouraged us to become.

The story began with Peter graduating from a prestigious school and then starting a successful medical practice. He prospered and was well received in private practice and decided his talent demanded he enter into a more challenging surgical career. The idea of being a surgeon sat well with him as it would please his parents and raise his status as well as his paycheck.

It was no surprise to Peter or his colleagues that he was accepted into a surgical program where he graduated with honours. Three years later he was granted his surgical licence and now had to work as a resident in a noted hospital. Peter’s career was advancing as planned. What happened next was a real blow to his ego.

The first assignment he and the other new resident was given was to clean out one of the operatories they would be working in as it had sat idle for a few years. They were told it had to be cleaned and painted before they would be seeing any surgical action. The first few days were a torment to Peter as he kept complaining to the other resident that he didn’t become a surgeon to do janitorial work. Meanwhile the other resident just carried on with the task at hand. It turned out the other resident grew up on a farm and doing chores, whatever they were, was completely natural to him. Roy finally tired of the constant whining and said, “Pete you have to quit sweating the small stuff” to which Peter replied “small stuff! We are surgeons working like janitors” [implying that was beneath them] Roy then said something to Peter that stayed with him forever.

“ As you go through life Pete you will find everything is small stuff……… don’t let it get to you. If you think otherwise you will always be anxious and feel like a victim”.

Peter said from that moment on he altered his view and kept the idea that what seemed like a huge slight was simply small stuff. The words of this colleague became the words of a friend who fifty years later remains one of his closest confidants.

How about you? Have you ever been passed over when praise or acknowledgment was being handed out? What about when someone gets picked at work for a position you are clearly more qualified for?

 Matt. 20:28, "For even the Son of Man did not come expecting to be served by everyone, but to serve everyone, and to give his life in exchange for the salvation of many."

Does the idea of living a servant’s life make you cringe? Or is your expectation to be served? Remember the disciples walking along behind Jesus discussing who would be sitting on His right hand and left? That is our human nature. We want to not only be important but we want recognition of that importance.

We all will live lives of reduced stress if we quit seeking recognition and understand that most things that happen in the timeline of eternity are ‘small stuff’. In fact if we are honest outside of Jesus we are pretty insignificant; attached to Him we are world changers.

Declaration: Today I begin the journey to "not sweat the small stuff". I will step closer and closer to Jesus so that others will experience Him when they see me serve. 

Let's light up our world : Digital Postcards

Note: It's easiest to do this part from your phone if you are going to use texting or social media to send it. If you are using a computer it is best to email or telegram the postcard.

1. Pick one of the Postcards. 2. Ask Holy Spirit who this is for? 3. Look at the card and ask Holy Spirit for a word of encouragement for them.  4. Send the postcard with the word of encouragement.

Quiet Prayer Video