The spiritual life is sometimes like a can opener. The Lord often opens our hearts up to those areas in our life that need work, sometimes a lot of work. You see we are often tossed around by the winds of life, and storms overwhelm us and sometimes put us on the brink of drowning. I know sometimes I feel as if I cannot catch my breath, so difficult are the storms of my life. I completely identify with my namesake, Paul, who struggled all his life with “a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness’”
2 Corinthians 12:7-9. I do not have a thorn in my side; I have torrential rains and waves that constantly wash over me, causing me to spend my days gasping for air. On occasion the Lord pulls me on deck for a spell, only to watch me tighten the winches and sail right into the heavy winds again, into the storms.
But I must tell you, that even as the winds and rain knock me down, I hear the voice of God, I see Jesus walking atop the water to me saying: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30. This is the grace of daily prayer and continuous awareness of seeing the actual Presence of Almighty God in our life: we hear His voice, we feel His Presence; we know His Love and Mercy for us! The spiritual life is the invitation God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to come to Him. He is the one who draws us into His Presence — we don’t go there on our own. We can’t! All we can do is “labor with our heavy burdens” we place on our own shoulders. On our own we cannot find “rest” in the heart of Jesus; No, He alone draws us into His heart to find rest! While we are struggling and working so hard and so needlessly hard, the Lord comes into our Presence gently with His humble heart showing us that our “rest”, our “peace”, resides in Him and in Him alone.
Oh Lord, fill us with Your peace.
We are so tired of struggling
and with carrying our heavy burdens of sin.
Following You, yoking ourselves to You,
is easy and and light when we abide in You,
when You calm the storms of our life!
Lord Jesus Christ Son of the Living God have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“And Jesus awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” Mark 4:39.
“One day He got into a boat with His disciples, and He said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even winds and water, and they obey Him” Luke 8:22-25?
“When He came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to Him and knelt before Him, saying, ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. And Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed”Matthew 8:1-4.
1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long”
Psalm 23.
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