Some days are like that. You wake up supercharged, with a battle cry in your spirit. Granted, this doesn’t happen every day. Most days it’s a struggle to get out of bed. But not today. I knew what to pray about as soon as I opened my eyes – Lord, let my hands not be slack. Please give me the strength that I need!
But be ye strong, and let not your hands be slack; for your work shall be rewarded.
2 Chronicles 15:7 ASV
What does this even mean?
Ever thought about what slackness means? There are a number of bible verses where God admonishes us – ‘do not let your hands be slack‘. Not the messaging channel, this time though. I looked up the word recently – according to the Webster Dictionary, slackness connotes idleness, carelessness, inefficiency, slothfulness. Some soul searching is warranted. Have you, like me been getting away with you doing less than you should? How about the dreams, the ideas, projects, gifts, and talents that the Father has entrusted to you – are you letting them shrivel and die from neglect, misuse, and carelessness?
I know I needed this wake-up call today. This has been an area of struggle for me. There are so many things I should be doing, applying myself – but they stay undone because it feels so hard. And yes, I have lots of good excuses – a full-time job, married with a house full of kids, etc. But the tugging in my heart won’t go away. I will readily admit I have not been a very faithful steward. Its been a lot easier to binge on Netflix or doomscroll through social media and news sites than apply myself to discipline in the areas where I need to grow. I know I should be writing consistently and diligently, working on this devotional weekly & regularly, being consistent about making out time to grow my cute little side hustle, commit to reading every day with my youngest and so many more.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack.
Zephaniah 3:16 ASV
Slackness Vs. Busyness?
Today is not a call to endless busyness where we work ourselves 6 feet under the ground. Far from it, today is about realizing that I have not been very good with consistently and diligently applying myself to the things that the Father would have me do. And so I come praying – crying out to the Father – there shall be no slackness in my hands. Everything you have entrusted to my care is accounted for. I will not lose any through carelessness, laziness, or slothfulness. Like Jesus said when he was praying for his disciples, – ‘that which you gave me, I have kept and not one of them is lost.’ Lord, I am not losing anything you have entrusted to me. Not my marriage, not my children, not my career or business, not my gifts & talents, not my family, not my relationships – nothing.
In conclusion
There is no slackness in my hands. Nothing dies in these hands. Everything I lay my hands on prospers and comes to maturity. There is no dryness in these hands. All that you have entrusted to me is flourishing and bearing fruit. Everything single thing you have entrusted to me grows, multiplies, bears fruits, brings forth, and is a blessing to all around me.
Selah
