Heavy Hearts

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkeness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on your unexpectedly." Luke 21:34

Jesus warns against three types of distractions that might hinder us from being fully prepared for His return. He describes these distractions as a "weighing down" of the heart, perhaps because the heart characterizes where our love and devotion is directed.

The first and second warning point to what appears to be apparent reprobate behaviors because there is a clear involvement with the world. Satiating the flesh by joining in the affairs of this earthly domain both in the sinful festivities and intoxication of drink would result in the weighing down of the heart.

However, it is the last warning, which is more difficult to heed in our daily lives. Especially when we are faced with multiple tasks that seem to shallow us in an abyss of bills, employment, and relationship issues, we can somtimes rule out God and attempt to sort things out on our own. However, the moment we believe we can deal with these issues, whether minor or major, "the cares of this life" are weighing down our hearts.

Worrying will amount to nothing but distance from God. We need to give Him all our cares, in order to alleviate our hearts from the burdens of this life. Our hearts need to be fully free from any weight, so that we can, with preparation and anticipation, wait for Jesus to return.

Dear God,

Please release me from the cares of this life. Help me to be free from any anxiety or worries I have about tomorrow. Let me trust that You have my life worked out, so that I can simply live each moment in total joy, knowing that You are coming back soon.