Thanks to my friend Rocky for sharing this with me via email! It's a great piece of prose with such an uplifting message!
Christine
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Sometimes God gives me a message that I know is special (well at least to me). I often find myself 'striving'. Trying to figure whatever burden I have out so I can solve it. I can even go so far as analyzing the issue and trying to fit God's word to it. I'm sure none of you have ever done that. Anyway, I realized that often I become downcast because I feel like I'm missing it. That I'm not doing what I'm supposed to. I prayed over that this morning and His answer was marvelous. He said, 'stop trying to carry your burden and take up my yoke, my burden'. I asked Him what His yoke and His burden were...well, I think when you read you'll see how He answered...may this bless you as much or more than it blessed me.
Rocky
The Yoke
Praise the Lord, O my soul
Why are you downcast within me
Recall all the good things He has done for you
How He has healed you, blessed you, prospered you
How He has made your path straight
Why, O my soul, do you wrestle over these things
Do you not hear the voice of the Lord saying,
"Cast all of your burdens upon ME
Take my yoke, my burden
for my yoke is easy, my burden is light
and I, the Lord your God shall care for you"
Ah, what is His yoke, you ask
He says,
"Come sit at my feet
listen to me
attend to my words
incline your heart to my sayings
for they are life
and they are health to all your flesh"
"Come let us reason together
I will teach you
And I will take your heart of stone and make it a heart of flesh
I will take your sins and make them as white as wool
I will heal you and prosper you"
"Come eat the bread I offer
Drink the drink that flows freely from Me
It is without cost to you for I have already paid the price
It is nourishment for your spirit
Prosperity for your soul
Health to your flesh"
So listen, O my soul, praise the Lord for He has done this
Praise Him and look to Him
And He will turn your ashes into beauty
Your mourning into laughter
Your gloom into joy
Wait upon Him, O my soul, and He will lift you up
He will establish your plans
Guide your footsteps
Carry you on the wings of His salvation
He will come with a recompense and a reward
For He loves you
Worship Him for He is good, merciful and gracious to you
Praise Him for all His mighty works
For He cares for you
Now let Him carry your burden
And stop being downcast within me, O my soul
Take up His yoke, His burden
Let this heaviness depart from you
For His way is easy, His burden is light
Praise the Lord, O my soul
And take up the yoke of the Lord
Written by Rocky Chambers
I read a book years ago called, "Victory Over the Darkness." I tried to find it in my extensive Christian book library, but I wasn't able to locate it for this post. I will look again when I have time.
ReplyDeleteThe most important thing that I recall about the book is the realization of who we are in Christ. Not because of myself (ourselves), not because I (we) have any righteousness, but because of His righteousness, we are saved, healed, and have a new identity in Him.
The book listed many Scriptures and references that described who we are in Christ upon the moment of salvation.
Sanctification occurs over our lifetimes and we are never perfect while here on earth, but allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to work in our lives proves his presence within our hearts and displays that the sanctification process is occuring within our lives. We are forever His.
Wow.
How can any of us lose our joy knowing all of this?
No matter what happens in this life, we need to focus on "taking up the yoke of the Lord," as Rocky stated in his prose piece. It is then, that the burden will be lighter.
Even in terrible times of grief and pain, we know that He is with us and will carry us through. I know this to be true because I have experienced it firsthand.
We always have the hope of the Lord and his promises for all eternity to ease the trouble that Jesus said we will have while here on this earth. Often, it is within such trouble that we draw nearer to Him. God can take ANYTHING and turn it for good. This is shown over and over again in our individual lives as well as in life in general.
He is a fabulous Lord!
Praise His Holy Name!