And Refresh: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

                                               And Refresh

                                                Weariness

                                                collapses mind

                                                heart and soul into a

                                                wasteland of sorrow

                                                blind even to loving

                                                support, strength

                                                carrying us in

                                                faithful presence.

                                                Words sustain

                                                begin to hope again

                                                see glimpses of light

                                                breaking our weakness.

                                                Sips of faith

                                                trickle into memories

                                                and refresh again

                                                awakening sight.

Romans 8:25, “But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”

Reflection: Weary: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

           

1. What worry has drained you of hope?

2. How do you see weariness of mind, body, or soul, as similar or different?

3. What word brought you, or will give you, strength to keep going?

4. Who near you needs to be refreshed?

5. What word can you bring to them and pray for them through their weariness?

Weary: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Jeremiah 31: 25, “For I satisfy the weary ones, and refresh everyone who languishes.”

And refresh,

Have you ever become so weary that you wonder if you will ever find strength again?

Sometimes the barrage becomes so harsh that we are only able to lay down and wonder if we will ever have the ability to live in faith again. And, then we add guilt to seeking that escape.

We forget that we do not have the capacity to face any storm apart from the Lord’s grace. We try to do it in our own strength and wonder why the fatigue crushes our ability to keep going. But God has a different perspective.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Lord, please show us how to be faithful to Your words when weariness pulls us away from Your hope. Please protect us until we are refreshed in Your strength again.

Your thoughts,

Weighted: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 12:1,“let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,”

Just as last week’s witnesses before and present, visible and invisible, encourage us toward a path of promise, so we need to examine what exactly we carry with us as we walk.

Have you ever stood in a line at an airport and wondered how anyone could be traveling with so much baggage? Have you ever been the person that every one stares at as you try to maneuver an overflowing cart of luggage?

Yet perhaps the person with the lightest visible carry-on is actually the one weighted down the most within. Heart and mind and soul heavy.

Even when we want to or try to unload the sin we carry, we often keep it. We hold on for many reasons: it is familiar, we think we can handle it, we consider it a constant reminder of our weaknesses to avoid, or hide, or pay penance for.

Yet they are in reality invisible chains that strangle fresh hope. They weary our bodies and our souls and our minds with a fatigue and sluggishness that we often don’t even recognize.

They slow down the journey, cause resentment from those around us, and steal our joy. But somehow we can’t quite let go. The grip is too strong. Unless we are willing to receive help, or to share the burden with another, or help someone else with theirs. Then we can lift our vision to see our journey with expectancy and new energy.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” We are on this journey by His invitation and by His provision. We can travel light within and without because He walks alongside. Only He can remove  our sin weight. His promise to us.

Lord, please help us to each see the sin we continue to hold onto and relinquish it into Your hands, so that we may travel our days fully released in life.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 63:8

“My soul clings to Thee;

Thy right hand upholds me.”