Am I asking too much??

The alarm goes off and it begins....the lists.

Get dressed.
Get the kids ready.
Make lunches.
Go to work.
Meet deadlines and goals.
Work reports.
Drive home.
Make dinner.
Clean up the messes.
Do laundry.
Do dishes.
Go to church.
Read your Bible.
Pray.
Serve others.
Give your tithe.
Sing in the choir.
Serve in the nursery.
Follow commandments.
Love others.
And on and on and on it goes...

You add into that life's drama of families being ripped apart around you, health scares, death and dying, close calls and it can all be a bit much to take!  Anybody????  Bueller???

This morning, on a rare Monday off due to a sick child, I got to just sit.  Just be.  I picked up a prayer card that I was supposed to have done over a week ago.  Micah 6:8 is the verse.

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."  ESV

Great...another list!  Not a great spiritual moment for me.

So, like I always do, I researched the history behind the verse and the context.  And lo and behold...the Israelites had the same attitude I did!  Check out the rest of the chapter and you'll see what I mean.  The first 5 verses are God telling them that he has a bone to pick with them.  He's the judge and the defendant is guilty of leaving God, not the other way around (which is the way we like to see it).  He'd delivered them from Egypt and THEY walked away from him.  In verse 6 and 7, Israel responds from the witness stand in bitterness and resentment.  "What do you want from me?  Are a thousand offerings good enough?  Give you my firstborn? You ask way too much!" (I totally paraphrased that.)  And God responds.  "Nope, it's actually very simple.  Do right by your fellow man.  Love mercy and kindness and walk humbly before me."  (again my paraphrase)

When my heart is overwhelmed, God simplifies.
When I say God, you ask too much!  He says, Really??  Three things, Beth....3.

1. To do justly.  To what is RIGHT to other people.  Treat them how I'd like to be treated.

2.  To love mercy/kindness.  I like how David Guzik puts it: "Don't just show mercy, but LOVE to show it."  I don't think I ever run to show mercy.  Much less LOVE it!  Note to self...work on that one.

3.  Walk humbly before your God.  There is the kicker.  Humbleness.  Charles Spurgeon said, "When you have found out what you REALLY are, you WILL be humble, for you are nothing to boast of."  Walking humbly before Him changes all those lists of things to do because it changes perspective.  I am nothing without him...nothing!  Spurgeon gave me a new list today:

Walk humbly when you are spiritually strong.
Walk humbly when you have much work to do.
Walk humbly in all your motives.
Walk humbly when studying God's word.
Walk humbly when under trials.
Walk humbly in your devotions.
Walk humbly between you and your brothers in Christ.
Walk humbly when dealing with sinners.

O Lord, I pray that humbleness starts in my heart.  That is overflows into my life.  That I will fall at your feet, knowing the state I am in is not worthy of any boasting.  YOU are any good in me!  I pray that I would surrender my lists to you and focus on 3 things.  To love others, show mercy and kindness and walk before you.  Humbly. I love you, Abba.