False Responsibility

Joy Revie

I really love our times of worship in Harrogate Vineyard. As we sing out our love and gratitude, the sense of the Holy Spirit's presence is tremendous.

One of my favourite songs that we sing is Make Room… the lyrics are summarised here:

And I will make room for You
To do whatever You want to

Here is where I lay it down
Every burden, every crown…
Every lie and every doubt
This is my surrender

Shake up the ground of all my tradition
Break down the walls of all my religion
Your way is better, Jesus.

These words challenge me every time. How can I, and how do I, ‘make room’?
What's my reality of daily accepting ‘Your way is better’?

As I examine my behaviour, I can see that I genuinely want this for my life, but I am guilty of setting off on my own path and then expecting Jesus to bless it!
Of course, inevitably, this doesn't go as I had planned, so I flounder, ending up anxious and confused!

This is when I need to stop, take time to sit down quietly and really say sorry… then WAIT for His direction and provision which, thankfully, He graciously gives.

Yes, it's a humbling experience (again) but helps to deepen our relationship and gives me more awareness of the journey which then becomes, well... a journey TOGETHER.

Jesus loves it when we partner with Him:

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn how to live freely and lightly.
Matthew 11: 28-30 (MSG)

The enemy wants us to think that we have to keep everything together, fix everything for ourselves, and often for those around us too. This is a False Responsibility.

The verses above show us clearly that Jesus does not expect that of us. It will only end up making us feel anxious and inadequate. He wants us to be free from all that… He has promised to carry it all.

The depths of His capacity are infinite and beyond measure.

So, I would encourage you, and me, to assess what we have taken on ourselves as false responsibility, either for yourself or those around you.

This could be worry, concern, grief, sadness, control, stress, co-dependence, guilt, or shame.

Let's accept the truth that none of these negative things belong to us, and carrying them round only weighs us down. When we come and meet with Jesus, we can lay it all down for He can carry it ALL.

Then we can go and run with new freedom, carrying only the weightless peace, hope and joy that comes with co-labouring with Him.

What a glorious God!
He gives us salvation over and over,
Then daily he carries our burdens!
Our God is a mighty God who saves us over and over!
For the Lord, Yahweh, rescues us
from the ways of death many times.
Psalm 68: 19-20 (TPT)