Well, sometimes my life just
don't make sense at all.
When the mountains look so big
and my faith just seems so small.
So hold me Jesus,
'Cause I'm shaking like a leaf.
You have been my King of glory,
won't you be my Prince of Peace?
(song by Rich Mullins)
Sometimes I get so much on my mind and feel like I have so much to do that I feel so overwhelmed. However, I believe that the overwhelming feelings are a gift of God to help point me to the deepest desire of my heart: to simply trust God with all my heart that He has given me to the praise of the glory of His grace.
The enemy tempts me to strive to overcome overwhelming feelings by my own selfish ways. His temptations are based on the lie that what Christ did on the cross and in His resurrection is not sufficient for me, and did not really transform me into God's child.
THE TEMPTATION
Just chill out and get on with your life.
(worldly wisdom)
Just let go, and let God.
(religious wisdom)
These worldly and religious statements tempt us Christians to view ourselves as separate from God. We are tempted to believe that although God is present, we are still in control. And it is up to us to "let go" in order to know God. This is not intimacy with God.
THE TRUTH
God's truth is that we have been intimately united with His dear Son through the cross and resurrection. We can be keenly aware of God's intimate presence with us moment by moment through the Holy Spirit.
And nothing we ever do in Christ is done separately from God, but is done intimately related to God in each moment. Hear this truth in these Scriptures:
Humble yourself
IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
and He will lift you up.
(James 4:10)
Humble yourselves
UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD
that He may exalt you in due time.
(1 Peter 5:6).
I believe our deepest desire is to experience the reality of God the Father holding us close through our intimate union with Christ. The following verse is a simple, yet profound, promise to always believe and to grow in experiencing:
Your right hand O LORD shall hold me.
(Psalm 139:10b)
CLOSING
I've been grappling with how to close this Rest Stop. So, I was delighted to receive a gift this morning. A hug from the Father, if you will. I awoke very early and received the following prayer in an email devotion by Anabel Gillham.
Lord, I long to be quiet, to rest in your arms, to desire nothing, to be content just to be in Your presence.
The things that I think I need, the obstacles that I think need to be moved, the changes I believe need to take place in my life -- are they really that urgent? You have not abdicated Your throne. You are still very much in control of my affairs and You love me and want what's best for me.
To accept this truth and cease to beg, cease to wimper and cry as a pampered child...I want this in my life, O precious Lord.
Hold me, please.
Hold Me Jesus
