Joel Osteen (April-05-2023) Daily Devotion: Take Care of Yourself.
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. Luke 5:15–16, NLT
TODAY'S WORD: Despite vast crowds coming to hear Jesus and to be healed, today’s Scripture says He often left the crowds and went away to rest and pray. I’m sure that means at times there were still many needy people waiting for prayer, disappointed that their needs weren’t met. Jesus wasn’t overlooking their needs; He was taking care of Himself. He needed to get away to get quiet and pray so He could be refreshed and restored.
Jesus didn’t let other people run His life, and neither should you. There will always be people who need you, somebody who needs rescuing or cheering up. If you try to meet everyone else’s needs, try to keep them fixed, you’ll end up rundown and eventually suffer burnout. Don’t be pressured into doing things that are going to wear you out. If Jesus walked away from people to protect His peace, you need to learn to walk away from things that are stealing your peace.
PRAYER FOR TODAY: “Father, thank You that You have called me to love and help others, but not to try to make them happy or to keep them fixed. Help me to protect my own peace and well-being. I declare that I am not responsible for other people’s happiness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
