Lighten Up by John Belt

Do you ever find yourself weighted down with thoughts, opinions and cares? The Lord wants our load lightened. The things of this world choke out the Lord’s words. When we allow things and thoughts to clutter and distract us it becomes difficult for us to experience His Presence consistently. Sometimes we takes ourselves way to seriously. When this happens we get incredibly introspective and self-consumed. We become more concerned about how we look that how God looks. What do I mean? God always looks good! We don’t. We don’t ever look good apart from God. He is the source of all good things.


James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.


He is the Source. When we “look” to the source we are not looking at ourselves. There is nothing that we can do to fix our condition. The only way we are going to change is by being in His Presence listening to His transforming voice and beholding the light of His countenance. When we gaze into the light of His face then our face will reflect His face and shine! The Lord wants us to “lighten up”. Then means we cast all of our cares upon Him for He cares for us. We are able to cast all of our cares on Him when we get the revelation that we cannot change anything by holding on to our cares. This is where we begin to see Him and look Him in His eyes. (Psalm 89:15)

When we can look Him in the eye then we can see that He is the only One who is able to carry the weight the loads us down. It is in this experiential revelation that we are able to say, “OK Lord, I give these weighty things to You. I will no longer carry them.” So by positioning ourselves before Him we can receive grace to release the things that weigh us down. Then we begin to lighten up! Then some joy begins to occur!


Nehemiah 8:10
Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."


Joy is a very light expression in the Kingdom of God. Lightness can be used synonymously with a joyful heart. A joyful heart is like medicine. Everyone wants to be where the party is and where there is joy. Jesus was anointed with the oil of joy far beyond His companions. It was for the joy set before Him that He endured the cross. Jesus was aware of the cross but He saw beyond the cross to the resurrection, being seated at the right hand of His Father and bringing many sons and daughters into His Kingdom.

Isaiah 61:3
“To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."


Joy glorifies God. His joy gives us the strength that we need to overcome in this life. Religiosity and false humility portrays devout commitment to God as a life with no joy, but only weariness, toil, work and labor. I believe in work. But the strength to do the work comes from a life infiltrated with the substance of the Kingdom of Heaven, righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost! We need His countenance to shine upon our face. The people of the world are looking for freedom not oppression. Religiosity is about control, politics, cookie-cutter molds and oppression. People are attracted to life, love and freedom. (Psalm 146:7)

When our focus is about who He is “in us” we will experience the freedom that comes with that understanding. His indwelling presence is the substance that ushers in lasting transformation and touches lives. It is about who we are “in Him” and who He is “in us”. We are much to hard on ourselves. It is easy to do so. But even if we have good works that are still filthy rags in God’s sight. What looks good to man is still filthy in the eyes of God. The only thing that looks good to God is the work of Jesus on the cross, His own goodness and our desire to yield to His Spirit to flow through us. A life that continually chooses Him and His way pleases Him. Sometimes those decisions are difficult, but the fruit is peace and joy. Every day we lay down our lives. It is a daily choice that the Father is continually pleased with. (I Corinthians 15:31)

Allow Him to lighten your load by casting your cares, laying down your life and allowing His Spirit to fill you afresh, renewing your heart with the oil of joy and gladness.

The Best is Yet to Come!