Delight in the Lord.
For there is joy in His presence.
Eternal pleasure at His right hand.
A River of Delight flowing from His Magnificence.
And yet……we fail to walk in the fullness of His presence.
Many searching for the ticket to salvation. Yet, turn from the full abundance of His Spirit.
Joy not in segments or portions or measures…
But joy overflowing.
I once was like a beggar….on the ground. Crawling….hoping for some crumbs of His goodness. Offerings. Grace….
And yet, when I met Him face to face….took His hand. He failed to look on me with disgrace. He simply….
Gently whispered, “Stand”.
Humble. Week. Contrite in Spirit….
Never leaving us discouraged….As beggars.
Like the adulterous women….shame and guilt overflowing….
Yet, Jesus calls her to rise….to leave her sufferings…..and live.
Though undeserved.
Chains of past. Cut free.
Not just a band-aide giver…….Covering wound healer.
His healing sets us free.
Makes us whole again.
Washes us clean……
So we know….True joy only comes from Him!
Did He not die so that we can have the full measure of His freedom?
But we compromise. Why……Because we want to do it on our own?
Fight through. Tough it out. Be the martyr between faith and doubt.
But I wonder…..
Would He be happy, knowing….we only take a part……of Him?
Receiving Heaven’s ticket….but not the freedom found in the Holy Spirit.
Like a prisoner, who’s master paid the debt, opened the cage and released him…
Yet, we stay……Hiding in the corner….because it feels safe…
Instead of running out full force….shouting!
Declaring to the world…
My God is great! Come out and see!
Like an elephant who once had chains…
Yet, now grown in every way….with the strength to walk away. The power to rise.
Yet, staying down. Chained. Still. Afraid of all strength God’s given him….
Why do we compromise? Find bondage so comforting?
We got a new dog. A mastiff. It cowers. Not grown….but eighty five pounds of full power.
Yet, she fails to know her God strength. Like a baby….she cowers so….
And it sickens us. That one so beautiful. So wonderful. Is afraid of who she is.
And yet, are we not like this?
Ashamed. Afraid. Or just not brave enough to stand strong in The One who redeems.
Or is it because….our focus is on us….
And we like it that way.
Instead of receiving all joy from the Joy Source.
We let sorrow and shame cling to us……from yesterday.
And I pray…..His healing come full force.
So God’s people will take the world by storm.
For like a beggar…..we are not.
Chosen.
Heirs of the throne.
Children of God.
May we know Him…….and be fully known…..
Until His joy unstoppable overflows.
Linking this post w/ Shanda & Wellspring
6 Comments
Praise the Lord I totallt needed to hear this Thanks
Hi Jen – beautiful post, Love how you lined us up with the timidity of your dog. Has so much power but doesn’t know it. Like us, God’s power available to us, but not awake to it.
God bless
Tracy
Jen…you do an amazing job…I love how you weave your writings…I love how you finish with the picture of the dog…he does look so pitiful…I sure don’t want to look so pitiful to God…to live in Knowing our God strength..getting our focus off us and on the only source of all we need…
Beautiful…
Have a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving….
I loved that grace allows us to STAND: He lifts us out of the pit to stand tall. !
Crystal – I am so glad that He could use my mere words to bless you.
Tracy – Isn’t that the truth. The same power that conquered the grave….in US!! 🙂
Ells- I think you tapped into a key point, my friend. …Getting our focus off of us. How we must look to Him for it all. In Him is our only strength!
Shanda – Amen!
Your new baby is beautiful :). And such the picture of our lack. What a gift to come see you twice in one day. I love catching up :). Yes, He is our Joy!