Lighten the Load

Psalm 68:19
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.

Galatians 6:2
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

John 13: 34-35 Jesus said, 34"So now I am giving You a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved You, You should love each other. 35Your love for one another will prove to the world that You are my disciples."

Glorious Lord,
You are my wonderful Savior! When I stumbled and fell over shame, You found me, and compassionately picked me up in Your strong arms. Injured and weak from the fall, You resiliently carried my wounds on Your body to Calvary. There, You disinfected my sore soul with Living Water from the gash in Your side and cleansed me with the antiseptic of Your blood. You covered every mistake I ever made and ever will make.

Miraculously, You healed me and gave me a vivacious new life full of love and strength. You promised that I can cast all my problems and pressures on You any time, any day, any place. If I lean on You, I won’t stumble and fall from the weight of my anxieties. I’ll stand up tall under stress, affectionately praising Your mighty power!

All around me are indignant, hurting people who have stumbled and can’t get up. The weight of their troubles is more than they can bear. Please enlarge my heart. Fill me with a spirit of compassion to notice the fallen people in my path. Just as You mercifully care for me daily, I’ll graciously stoop down, pick them up, and carry their burdens. Since You went a great distance to save me, I’ll go the extra mile to lift up needy people. I’ll go out of my way to attentively listen to them, boosting their spirits with kind words of encouragement and prayer. Make me a mighty magnet to draw others to You for mercy. In doing so, I’ll fulfill Your command to love others, and show the watching world that I belong to Jesus through whom I live and pray. Amen.

If you know someone who’s struggling financially, deliver groceries to their door. I often use the buy one get one free specials at the grocery store, buying one for my family, giving the free items to someone less fortunate.

If you’re aware that someone has received devastating news, pick up the phone and call them. Just tell them you’re thinking of them and ask them to let you know how you can help.

Go visit an elderly or disabled person. Take along a balloon bouquet to brighten their surroundings.

Write a letter to a prisoner who’s been forgotten by society. Tell them about God’s forgiveness. Show them His mercy.

Offer to pray for someone who is hurting and do it on the spot. It will bless their heart to hear their name being carried to the throne!

Ask God to give you a spirit of forgiveness and forbearance. Ask for an enlarged heart and a spirit of compassion. I can guarantee He will be delighted to give you these things! Then, open your eyes. Look around and you will see someone close by who has fallen and needs your help. Show them that you belong to the family of God by lightening their load today.

Find someone with a load heavier than your own, and help them carry it today. It’s not optional!