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Weekly Devotions
Week of October 13, 2008

By Anita Lie Carman
Founder and President of “Inspire Women”

Are you stressed out by everyone's needs?

Dear Faithful One,

Have you been bombarded with one need followed by another? Do you feel like the whole world has moved into your house or office? As I pondered Jesus' life, I observed how He was surrounded by people all the time. What helped Him to keep responding to them while not feeling put out by them or stressed out by their needs? What can we learn from Jesus in responding to those around us?

Let's take a look at the constant demand on Jesus' time. Matt 15:30 reads: Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. NIV.  Don't miss the fact that what people needed from Jesus was also something he could not delegate. Have you been in a place where only you can do what needs to be done?  What motivated Jesus to respond? Matt 9:36 tells us, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." NIV.  

Herein lies the secret to stress management. Jesus was not resentful, he was not angry at the demand on His time. Instead, He was filled with compassion. How would life change if you allowed mercy to drive you?

Besides mercy, what else drove Jesus?  Mark 10:1 reads:  Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. NIV. Did you see the words "as was his custom, he taught them." God's pattern in relating to those with needs was to use the need as an opportunity for instruction. In responding to those who are constantly demanding your attention, what are you teaching them?

When we have a heart of mercy and a desire to teach, the crowds are no longer an intrusion. Instead, time with them is an opportunity to teach God's value system and truth. For example, in doing for your children or those on your team, always believe in their potential to do more with their lives. Therefore, your involvement should not enable them to do less. You were not called to be their crutch. Instead, invest in them because of your belief that God wants to change the world through them. Let them see in your eyes that you believe in their potential.

When Jesus healed the lame, He did not give them a crutch to hobble through life. Instead, He healed from the inside out to establish a vessel to walk with strength into the future. At Inspire Women, God continuously leads us to follow His pattern. Therefore, we will train someone how to fish instead of giving them a fish. This is the reason we invest in education to help women serve at their God given potential. God commands us to invest in the training of independent mature leaders who will be pillars in their community.  

How have you responded to the needs around you? Do you help with the mindset to empower someone to become independent and strong? Or do you help in a way that promotes weakness and encourages lifetime dependence?  Realize that when you do for others what they can do for themselves, you rob them of the privilege to develop the potential God has put in them. Is it time to stop enabling weakness and teach God's values.

I pray this devotion encouraged you in a special way. When I pray for you, I hear a victory song. I believe in you because I believe in the power of God's Word in you as you put His Word into action.

Love, Anita Carman