Adam and Eve had it made. The provision God had prepared for them was tremendous. There was no want or lack in their lives. However, it was what they could not have that began to take up residence in their thoughts. Eventually, their thoughts led to action and all of humanity fell into sin when they committed sin because of what was forbidden. The Word declares that all sin falls into three categories: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Each and every "thing" that tempts us to move out of the will of God comprises these three elements. The Bible says that Eve considered the fruit to be good for food (lust of the flesh), something to be desired (lust of the eyes), and something to make one wise (pride of life). In essence, she was deceived! Genesis 2:9 states that all the fruit was good for food and pleasant to the sight. And wisdom is simply doing the will of God. But, they both ate the forbidden fruit (Adam was right there with her) and the rest is history. The antidote: keep our eyes on God. Their combined provision could not be compared to the fruit of one off-limits tree.

No two sisters could have been more different than Mary and Martha. It's not that they had different religions. In fact, I think that both believed on Jesus as their Lord and Savior. However, the Word reveals that their differences did not come from the outside, but the inside. Mary made the Word of God a priority in her life. Nothing else-including serving the Lord-was her top priority. She knew that service without fellowship was unfulfilling. However, Martha did not have that same revelation. In her efforts to show her gratitude through hospitality, she began to be burdened with the task. She missed out of the peace that Jehovah Shalom had for her-the one things that she needed. The prescription: keep our minds stayed on the Word of God. In the illustrations, the focus is not about the "things." The essence is that, at some point and time, having a relationship with God became less important than a desire-whether it's an ungodly desire to yield to temptation or a yearning to serve the Lord without first maintaining a personal relationship with Him. In the end, a lack of trust is evident.

Inevitably, peace is sacrificed and the desire becomes a burden and a yoke. We must purpose each day to exalt God in our hearts over every area and every matter, presenting the entirety of our lives to Him. That includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. After all, God see all and knows all. When we do, we show Him that we love Him, trust Him, and will obey Him in every "thing."

Trust Him with whatever is weighing heavy on your heart today. He can handle it. And He relishes to remove every burden and to destroy every yoke in our lives. After all, whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

NOWTHE GOD OF PEACE BE WITH YOU ALL. AMEN.

[Romans 15:33]

To develop trust in God, meditate on the following scriptures and watch your spirit soar:

Ruth 2:12; 2 Samuel 22: 3, 31;

2 Kings 18:5; 1 Chronicles

5:20; Psalm 5:11, 7:1, 9:10,

11:1, 13:5, 20:7, 22:5, 25:2,

28:7, 31:1, 31:14, 32:10, 34:22,

37:5, 55:23, 56:11, 57:1, 91:2,

112:7, 118:8, 125:1; Proverbs

3:5, 16:20; Isaiah 12:2, 50:10,

51:5; Jeremiah 17:7; Ezekiel

16:15; Nahum 1:7; Mark 10:24;

Luke 18:9; 2 Corinthians 1:10;