I hope you don't mind if I share this "poem" I wrote a while back with you today. What God has laid on my heart lately is that I need to be simplifying my life so that I can keep my eyes fixed on Him and walking more closely with Him. I found this poem in my notes and thought it represented my desire to be where God wants me to be. It's scary times we are living in right now, and I can get so distracted. I sometimes find myself looking for comfort in this world, when Jesus is already right there with arms wide open. I think of Peter when He steps out of the boat after Jesus. He walks on the water, until He takes His eyes off of Jesus and notices the storm around Him, and then he sinks. In these turbulent times, I pray that we can all keep our eyes fixed on our hope, and never get distracted by all that is going on around us. Jesus is coming back and we need to be ready when He comes (see Luke 21:25-27). For more study, check out Luke 21:34-36 .
When I think of who you are God,
the tiny human concept I have is enough to eclipse all that this world has taught me in all my years and I'm a newborn,
a tiny human with fresh clean skin and honest, wondering eyes gazing up at you.
There is a silence that pushes out time and space and sound and fear and want.
I find myself right where I should be when I gaze upon you.
You say, "Follow me", and I do but only for a time because distraction pulls at me and I glance away from where my eyes should stay fixed.
Tumbling down I fall.
Envy, pride, judgement are the friends waiting for me, wanting me to give them another second away from you.
Don't mind if I do.
It's the flesh that I listen to.
This broken vessel is tossed on waves that I justify, defend, bargain for and I'm taking on salty water that is never potable.
As I take on water and sink fast, the fellows of my past are resurrected -
corpses chained at the bottom - dead but not forgotten -
and they grab at me, pulling me to my grave.
But there I am, dead in my sin and your loving arms reach to the depths and rescue me.
You never let go.
I may even try to jump from your grasp, back to the vomit of despair that knows my name and calls me back again.
But my soul longs for you.
And I want to be true to you.
And I hold on to you for dear life.
Take me out of this death I've made.
Take me to your heart where I can rest.
Make me like you.
Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble."
Dear Father,
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to live for you while we are here on this Earth. I pray that you "keep our eyes from worthless things" (Psalm 119:37) and keep us focused on you. As the tides change in this country and in this world, I pray that we always remember that this is reason for us to be joyful, because you are coming for us! I pray that we can all stand before you when the end times come because we have made you our Lord and trusted you. Help us to simplify our lives so that the distractions of this world do not crowd you out. Open our eyes and ears to what you have for us. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!
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