Come, All Ye Weary and Heavy Laden
Jesus came to earth to take away our hurt and our pain. To remove the heartache and suffering of this world. That was His purpose- to reconcile us to God, to be the propitiation for our sins- our sins against Him, our sins against each other. He came, that we may live- that we may know that joy of Heaven, that love of God.
Have you ever felt like your heart was too pained and scarred to continue beating? That you couldn't raise your voice in song simply because there's no song left to sing? Aren't there those moments where it all seems so meaningless, so purposeless, so futile and empty? In those moments, vision is clouded and the mind confused, and all one feels is hurt and anguish. Isn't that the time when you want to throw your hands in the air and say, "I give up". Maybe there's someone amongst us who feels this way- like there simply isn't a way to move on with life, that the memories of the past and the disappointment attached to that time ago are just like hooks which cling to us and drag us backward, piercing our flesh and bleeding us dry of whatever was pleasant, beautiful, hopeful and abundant.
And yet, Jesus said that He came to give life, and 'life abundant'. Surely Jesus never lied, surely that Lamb of God would never bring deceit and falsity to His lips- no, Jesus only speaks Truth, and He IS here to give us peace of heart, reconciliation to the Father, and hope for tomorrow.
Jesus said, "Come unto Me, all ye weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest for your souls."
Take some time today, pause and think of what the Lord has done for you and for me. Wait upon the Lord, who knows each care and hurt, each bruise and wound, and tenderly bends to us to care for our pains. He alone can give that peace and healing that our hearts so desperately cry out for- only Jesus. He whose hands were pierced with nails of hate, whose feet were marred with spikes of malice, whose side was thrust through, and whose blood covered that hill on Calvary. The price He paid for our lives, for our reconcilation to God, with nothing less than His own suffering.
And today, He stands, calling, "Come, come, come- Come to the Father, my child. Why so broken hearted and tearful? Lift your eyes to Heaven, and rest in my love, my perfect love." Come to Jesus.
Dearest Jesus,
the price you paid for my life was so high- so unbearably high and painfully costly. Surely you understand the fraction of pain that I'm feeling just in my heart. The Bible says that you were a man acquainted with suffering, and that you understand this fragile mortal life- you understand it all, the heartbreaks and pain. Thank you Lord, for being so close and understanding of what us. Thank you for coming to Earth and giving us your greatest gift- yourself. O Lord, we give you praise and thanks that even now, you understand these prayers for deliverance, and that you are ever so close to us. Jesus, I pray for mercy, for deliverance from all these hurtful thoughts and memories. I ask, jesus, that you send Your comforting Spirit to give me rest. All I want to do, Lord, is rest in you and claim your invitation to take refuge and comfort in Your loving arms. You have said that you will never leave us nor forsake us, and Your Word is true. Give me faith to claim this offer of peace that you hold out open, and let me be found in You. Take this heart that has been so battered by the world, and make it whole. Thank you Lord for your lovingkindness, for your perfect love.
In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Have you ever felt like your heart was too pained and scarred to continue beating? That you couldn't raise your voice in song simply because there's no song left to sing? Aren't there those moments where it all seems so meaningless, so purposeless, so futile and empty? In those moments, vision is clouded and the mind confused, and all one feels is hurt and anguish. Isn't that the time when you want to throw your hands in the air and say, "I give up". Maybe there's someone amongst us who feels this way- like there simply isn't a way to move on with life, that the memories of the past and the disappointment attached to that time ago are just like hooks which cling to us and drag us backward, piercing our flesh and bleeding us dry of whatever was pleasant, beautiful, hopeful and abundant.
And yet, Jesus said that He came to give life, and 'life abundant'. Surely Jesus never lied, surely that Lamb of God would never bring deceit and falsity to His lips- no, Jesus only speaks Truth, and He IS here to give us peace of heart, reconciliation to the Father, and hope for tomorrow.
Jesus said, "Come unto Me, all ye weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest for your souls."
Take some time today, pause and think of what the Lord has done for you and for me. Wait upon the Lord, who knows each care and hurt, each bruise and wound, and tenderly bends to us to care for our pains. He alone can give that peace and healing that our hearts so desperately cry out for- only Jesus. He whose hands were pierced with nails of hate, whose feet were marred with spikes of malice, whose side was thrust through, and whose blood covered that hill on Calvary. The price He paid for our lives, for our reconcilation to God, with nothing less than His own suffering.
And today, He stands, calling, "Come, come, come- Come to the Father, my child. Why so broken hearted and tearful? Lift your eyes to Heaven, and rest in my love, my perfect love." Come to Jesus.
Dearest Jesus,
the price you paid for my life was so high- so unbearably high and painfully costly. Surely you understand the fraction of pain that I'm feeling just in my heart. The Bible says that you were a man acquainted with suffering, and that you understand this fragile mortal life- you understand it all, the heartbreaks and pain. Thank you Lord, for being so close and understanding of what us. Thank you for coming to Earth and giving us your greatest gift- yourself. O Lord, we give you praise and thanks that even now, you understand these prayers for deliverance, and that you are ever so close to us. Jesus, I pray for mercy, for deliverance from all these hurtful thoughts and memories. I ask, jesus, that you send Your comforting Spirit to give me rest. All I want to do, Lord, is rest in you and claim your invitation to take refuge and comfort in Your loving arms. You have said that you will never leave us nor forsake us, and Your Word is true. Give me faith to claim this offer of peace that you hold out open, and let me be found in You. Take this heart that has been so battered by the world, and make it whole. Thank you Lord for your lovingkindness, for your perfect love.
In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
posted by leb at 9:23 AM
2 Comments:
This isnt exactly a follow-up to your post but rather the whole "life abundant" issue.
We all know the existance of a certain group that claims this life abundant promise as one where the christian life is happy! bountiful in blessing of circumstances, and really just a constant ecstacy in the spirit of God. of late i find this very hard to swallow.
What joy is there in this world? what happiness is given that is not soon drowned in sorrow? dont misunderstand when i write this, i'm not in one of my moods, but rather i see christian life as one where trouble abounds. a cosmic battle, in which we are combatants with limited perspectives. like war, a soldier is to carry out his orders with whatever knowledge he is given, often deemed insufficient. but he carries them out nonetheless.
christian life is trust in the orders so handed down. a trust in God that he knows what he's doing with your life. Earthly War is gruesome and terrifying, how much more a heavenly war when we cannot see our enemy nor even understand the ENORMITY of it.
my intention is not to depress. just to simply point out that perhaps it is time to move past a certain understanding of joy that is often influenced by circumstance and earthly things. like you said brother, it is time to enjoy the joy OF THE LORD, to remember his goodness to us, to remember that he is God and that alone is awesome enough.
in agony, let us embrace it, and live in the joy of God. that truly his grace shall be sufficient. how great was job's testimony that he clung on to God to the end, despite the torrent of affliction that he had to suffer. consider this, if God had not restored him, would we view the story differently? would that story still bring the kind of hope some of us associate it with? what if God only answered but did not restore job?
let us truly learn to be content and joyful in God and him alone. that circumstance cannot shake, that people cannot hurt, that time will only prove true.
i pray that for us all. for us all. that our laughter is only in Jesus. Ravi Zach mentioned that not once in the bible was it mentioned that jesus laughed. in his life on earth jesus had little reason to laugh. i hope that when i do see him laugh, i would be laughing with him; like a child enjoying his bond with his father.
well, i don't know if jesus came to do anything for anyone but himself. he was a teacher, he taught. he was a leader, he led. he embodied god -- did he do it for you or me, or did he just do it. we can either learn from him, follow him or not.
if there's no joy in one's life, that is more to do with the choices of the individual -- and their not following the love god gave them for the human life gift experience.
good work!
peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'
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