Helping Others?

When helping someone tires you out, wears you down, and frustrates you, when do you say "enough is enough?"
Is it selfish to want to take care of  yourself? Is it selfish to change your hang out places and people because you want a change in your own life?

These are questions I've asked myself lately.  God calls his prayer warriors, disciples, ministers, and faithful followers to help others, love others, and edify others. I don't know how doctors, ministers, pastors, disciples and faithful followers do it, but I sure have a lot of respect for them.  I salute you in the biggest way I know how; thank you!

I know it's up to us, the Christians, to plant the seeds and allow God to water them and nurture them. I know the growth is going to happen when God says it is going to happen. SO, if I know this to be truth, why is it so hard to walk through?

I want to share with you what I have learned recently.  God is in control no matter what I say or do to help people in their lives. I have to let go of  the situation and get out of the way so God can move in a mightier way than I could ever imagine.
I have learned that it is on my knees I need to be and allow God to take care of the other people in my life.

I know we all have people in our lives that are struggling, being ignorant about their decisions they will make or made, or maybe they are being negative instead of positive. We (you and I) want more for them than they want for themselves. You know, it's only going to hurt you and me more then them?
It happened to me. It hurt me and my relationships with others and with my daily responsibilites.
This was my sin and I confess it you. I wanted to sit on the throne and wanted to be God. What I recognize now is that I am not God and I am not in control. WOW! That was a load off of my shoulders.

My next step is to take care of me, Marjorie. I am going to eat right, which I didnt' do. I am going to get the right amount of sleep and read more, which I was reading less. I am going to do what makes me happy. The Lord says "Happy are the peacemakers." Well I have to have peace with myself before I can have peace with others in my relationships.

SO, where are you at in helping others? Are you tired and worn out? Are you ready to give up the throne and put God back on top?  Are you ready to really care about yourself more and others at arms length?

The next question that comes to my mind is...Are we stumping others growth by being too much available to them? If so, maybe this is another reason to back off and learn to say "NO, I cannot do that." Maybe it's another reason to say "NO, I am out of resources to help you."  or "NO, I am tired and have no more energy to help you."
I always thought the word "NO" was a negative but it's not. In this case of replenishment the word "NO" is a positive and I am going to positively use it.

I hope you will do the same. May your day be filled with a spiritual replenishment today. May your head hit the pillow tonight with peace knowing you made a good decision to say "NO" at something today.
I think I will take Jesus' advise and go to a quiet place where there is noone else around and HONESTLY sit with him and pour my heart to him. then I can say

"Yes Lord I am available to you and thank you for allowing me to rest in your strength, wisdom, and knowledge. I am ready for my next assignment."

I hope this will help you like it helped me,

Marjorie

*I want to encourage you to listen to http://www.whif.org/ online and fill yourself with truth via of music and words, call us for prayer and let us help you too.*