Where Am I Spending My Energy?

Good morning.

Today we are not in Isaiah.

We are going to be in Micah 7:7–9, and then we are going to go and look at Psalm 145:3–7.

As I was looking at Isaiah 22, I was like, "Lord, I just—I need a moment to focus on You and not destruction and judgment."

Because I don't know about you guys, but man, I've had a lot of stuff going on in my world.

Just between work and family and just life in general, there's been so much going on.

And we have elections not that far away, and a world that just has so much going on.

And I just needed to stop and focus on God.

And so, I don't—I don't suggest this, and I always question this, but I just opened my Bible, and I landed on Micah 7.

And I was like, "So, read what showed up and hit me," which was Micah 7:7–9.

I was like, "Okay, maybe."

You know?

And then I went and I read Psalm 145 and picked out some verses.

I'm like, "Okay, my Lord, where—what are we doing here? What do You have?"

And I closed my Bible, and I didn't put markers in anywhere.

And it opened back up to Micah 7.

I was like, "Okay, I think we're gonna stay in Micah a little bit today."

So Micah 7:7 is:

"But as for me, I will be on the watch for the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me."

"Do not rejoice over me, enemy of mine. Though I fall I will rise; Though I live in darkness, the LORD is a light for me."

"I will endure the rage of the LORD Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, And I will look at His righteousness."

And all throughout Scripture—all throughout Scripture—He uses the imagery of watchtower and waiting on Him and looking for Him earnestly.

And, you know, we just read in Isaiah 21, you know, in verse 12:

"The watchman says, 'Morning comes but also night. If you would inquire, inquire; Come back again.'"

I am in the middle of walking some things out.

I am in the middle of my night.

And so I understand when it says, "Morning comes but also night."

I keep seeking after God.

Keep asking, "How much longer?"

And He shows He's okay with us asking.

He's okay with us turning to Him.

And then we have Psalm 145:3–7:

"Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation will praise Your works to another, And will declare Your mighty acts.

On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.

People will speak of the power of Your awesome acts, And I will tell of Your greatness.

They will burst forth in speaking of Your abundant goodness, And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness."

I will shout joyfully of God's righteousness.

I will meditate on His wonderful works.

And I will seek Him with all of my heart.

You know, I've been in some really tough work situations this week.

And something I learned a while ago has really come into play here for me.

And that thought is: You only are given so much energy.

So much mental energy.

So much physical energy.

So much emotional energy.

And we have to steward that energy well.

And I remember a while back—a while back—I was fired up over something on Facebook.

I don't remember who said it.

I don't remember where it came from.

But I remember the lesson.

And it is:

"Why are you giving your emotional energy, that you only have so much of, to all of these things that don't matter?"

Save your emotional energy for your family.

For your God.

For things that matter.

And then choose how you are going to spend that emotional energy.

Am I gonna burn it up with anger?

Am I gonna let it simmer with frustration?

Or am I gonna use it to find goodness?

Am I gonna use it to love on the people around me and in front of me?

Am I going to use what I have in a way that brings God glory and honor?

And that's all I could think about this week as things have gone wrong at work and tempers have flared and people have said and done things that are not okay.

And I didn't want to spend my emotional energy on being mad at a situation that I have zero control over.

So I have spent a lot of time in prayer this week.

Because that's where I can spend my energy in a way that honors God and invites Him into the midst of the hard things that are going on.

So be like a watchman.

Watching for God.

Seeking His face.

And looking for the very first glimmers of daylight that come after a long night.

Yes.

He is just so good.

And He is there.

He does not leave us alone.

And He does not leave us.

Oh Lord, I thank You.

Thank You for allowing us to come and inquire and seek, and to show us where to put our focus and our energy.

Lord, that I would steward my energy wisely.

That I would spend it in a way that honors You.

Oh Lord, as I—as we go out and do the things that You ask us to do, I just ask that You guide our footsteps.

That we will be present with the people You've placed in front of us.

That we will be a light on the hill for all around.

Oh precious—it is in the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Thank you for joining me today as we stopped and wandered through God's Word with wonder.