Lay Aside Every Weight

Letting go is difficult in sooo many ways isn't it? Letting go of expectations and of what we hoped for, in relationships and life isn't easy, but I know it's possible through God's grace. His sweet grace. Recently, I've been listening to Amy Grant's song, "Carry You." 

"Lay down your burden, I will carry you. I see those sleepless nights and I count every tear you cry. I know some lessons hurt to learn."

When I was letting go of a relationship that wasn't right for me, I got a picture in my mind that really helped me. Perhaps it will encourage you too. 

I imagined it was Spring and I needed to shed my heavy winter coat. Slipping it off my shoulders, I allowed it to drop to the floor. Aah, so wonderful to release the weight of it!

As I went through the process of letting go, my heart began to grow lighter. I wanted to dance! The Lord helped me release what I didn't need in order to allow room for His best. 

May you sense God's divine comfort as you let go of weights, of sins, of relationships that aren't helping you be the best you can be. That aren't allowing you to be formed into the image of Christ. May He give us the grace to look away from all that distracts and keep our focus on Him. That'll make Him smile.  

Copyright © 2010 Marie Nease 

Hebrews 12:1-2 scripture reference from the Amplified Bible

 ¹THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,    ²Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Thirsty

Father, may we thirst 

for You.

May we be submersed

in You.

May we crave

Your presence 

as we do our next breath.

May we burn with desire!

Set our hearts on fire!

May our spiritual lips 

feel cracked and dry

so, desperate we cry

we have to have You!

May our thirst

be so intense 

our need, immense

that we pant

as we run 

to You, stream 

of living water! 

May we not cup 

our hands and drink,

but dive in to You, 

into Your flow.

Only then will

our thirst be quenched.

Copyright ©2009 Marie Nease

Basking

One thing butterflies must do from time to time is bask. Butterfiles can't fly if their body temperature is less than 85 degrees. If their body temperature falls below 85, they have to bask. Most butterflies bask by spreading their wings to the side to expose the greatest amount of wing surface to the sun and then they absorb the radiant heat.

After several days of overcast skies and rain...I desperately need to bask. I'm born to fly. To fly high and see the dreams and passions, that God planted in my heart, come to fruition!

As butterflies need to bask when their body temp is less than ideal, I need to bask because the temptations of this world try to make my love for my Creator God grow cold. My temp is certainly less than ideal today.

I soooo need to spread my wings and expose the greatest amount of my "wing surface" to the Son, Jesus, and absorb His radiant heat! To absorb His sweet presence, to sense His love surrounding me...so that when I do fly into the next day and the next temptation, that I will be full of His warmth, His direction and peace and I'll know what to do.

Then, the love coming from my heart, shown in my actions and in my words will please my Creator! So, I will bask in His presence through worship and praise, through quieting my mind to hear His love, and eating His words. (Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Psalm 34:8 and Your words were found, and I ate them and they became joy for me... Jeremiah 15:16 ) I will bask in the Sonshine & let Him take the chill away.