I've been thinking about burdens lately.
About all that stuff we carry around – the worries and fears, the hopes and dreams, the million and a half things we do, thoughts and feelings, guilt about the past, concerns about the future, the people we care about, money and health…
Sorry, I got carried away!
But you know what I'm talking about. The list that could go on and on.
It's a heavy load.
And I know that I'm supposed to take it to the Lord.
Got to thinking about that, too.
What exactly does that mean?
I asked the Lord to give me some insight. And He did (He's like that, you know!). And I realized that there are stages to "taking it to the cross."
1. You've got to be in Jerusalem.
What do I mean by that? Well, you've got to be in the Lord's presence. It isn't enough to attend that weekly Bible Study. It isn't enough to go to hear that weekly sermon. It isn't enough to do all those "churchly" activities that we do. Those things are all so important, yes. But they're not enough when it comes to burdens. To be in Jerusalem, you have to spend time in the Word. You need to enter the city of Scripture, and you need to do it as a discipline – every day.
"Good enough, Lord. Right?"
"No, not quite…"
2. You've got to come to the cross.
OK, you're having a quiet time in the Word every day. Wonderful! That’s a tremendous start! But, there's more. We have to take those burdens to the cross. We have to talk to God about them. This is the step of prayer. I'm not talking about all those pretty, nice, all "tied up in a bow" prayers. I'm talking about "David" prayers. The kind I read in Psalms. The gut-wrenching, nitty-gritty, appallingly honest prayers. The ones that come from the soul. The ones when we pour out our hearts. We don't pull punches. We tell God everything.
"OK, Lord. This is what you want, right?"
"You're getting warmer…"
3. You've got to kneel.
So, we're at the cross, holding on to all those burdens and cares. But in our hearts, we're still standing. We've got to kneel down. We must acknowledge the Sovereignty of our Lord. We have to believe that He alone knows what is best for us and those we love. We must not lean on our own understanding - we must believe that He is all-knowing and wise. We have to humble ourselves. We have to let go of pride, and realize that He is Almighty.
"Oh, Lord – this was tough. But I'm on my knees. Now I've got it, right?"
"You’re getting it right – but there's more…"
4. You've got to lay your burdens down.
It isn't enough if I pray about things – and never really understand that I don't have control over them. I must go beyond having God just be my "listening ear" – I have to let him be God. God in control – not my will, but Thine be done. Here's where many of us struggle. Letting go. Realizing how we're really just little *control freaks* in disguise. Going through all the motions, and yet, never really turning over all those burdens to the Lord. Releasing them into His care. Relinquishing, surrendering. Turning them over to Him in faith.
"Lord, you see my tears. I've laid these things at Your cross. What more do You want??"
"Dear child, just one more thing…"
5. You've got to walk away.
This is the hardest step of all. We can have our daily time in the Word, we can pray to the Lord about all our stuff. We can kneel in His presence, and give Him our burdens. But then, He asks us to walk away. To not just give them to Him – but to leave them with Him. How often are we tempted to go and just "straighten" a few of those things out? How often do we sneak some of them back into our arms? How often do we tire of waiting for Him to act? How often are we tempted to just scoop the whole mess up and stomp off in frustration? I've done all of those things. But God asks me to trust Him – completely. He asks me to bring my burdens to the cross, lay them down, and walk away.
"Lord, it's so hard to walk away from these things. So very hard to walk away."
"Don't worry, I'm walking away with you…"
Dear friends, what are you doing with your burdens?
Can you hear God calling you to take the next step?
"Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." (1 Peter 5:7 – Amplified Bible)
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
This was so good, Sharon...that #5 is definitely the hardest step...
ReplyDelete""Don't worry, I'm walking away with you…""...what a promise!
Your BEST post EVER!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis really is my favorite. I love it from the start in Jerusalem to the walking away.
Going deeper in our relationship with God requires trust...It takes trust to leave our burdens with Him, but when we do, we experience the peace and joy that only God can give. Thanks for the encouragement this morning, Sharon!
ReplyDeleteBlessing, Joan
It's a long story here - but the biggest saddness in my life was my brother's death - which I did blame some on my SIL. The anger was killing me. I participated in A Walk To Emmaus
ReplyDelete- I literally walked up to the alter and left my hate there. And it took awhile - but all the anger did go away. Doesn't mean you forget - but I did forgive. I know it works.
I liked this, Sharon, how God laid it out through your words; I often "forget" to leave things that I have gut wrenching told him about, getting better with it, but still a ways to go!! Thanks for sharing this!!
ReplyDeletebetty
Blessings Sharon...WOW DO I LOVE THIS!!! and how God gave you insight...and I like the steps of "laying down our burdens" and taking it to the cross! I think we say this all too easy without realizing how difficult these steps are, right up to the last.
ReplyDeleteI just read this devotional by Dr. Bill Bright and for some reason, I wanted to share it with you...do not know if it was for this post or a previous one:
We Shall Never Lack
"Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those of us who reverence the Lord will never lack any good thing" (Psalm 34:10)
"When you have nothing left but God," a Christian leader once observed, "then for the first time you become aware that God is enough."
With every command of God is a specific or implied promise to enable us to do what He commands us to do. He always makes it possible for us to fulfill the conditions to obey His commands.
Rarely, will some of us see a check for a million - or even thousands - of dollars. But here is a check for millions of millions, waiting to be cashed by those of us who know and love the Lord, who love Him enough to obey His commands.
Here is a promise of God which is great enough to meet our needs, our wants, even our deepest desires and distresses.
As you and I go through our day, how reassuring it is to know that our reverence for the Lord will be rewarded by provision of every good thing we need. That means the strength, the peace, the courage, the love I need to get me through the decisions, the trials, the testings.
That also means a new consciousness of God's indwelling Holy Spirit, the one through whom I find the supernatural, abundant life. That means a tender conscience toward God, so that I make a supreme effort to avoid yielding to temptation in any way, lest I grieve my wonderful Lord.
Bible Reading: Psalm 34:1-9
TODAY'S ACTION POINT: I shall not be afraid to go to the bank of heaven today and cash a check for all my needs, enabling me to share the supernatural life with all whom my life touches.
****************
I love that you started us in Jerusalem, then on to the Cross and on our knees! Finally onward to laying them down and walking away. This does include letting them go, every bit of it.
I'm depending on Jesus to show me or carry me, my burdens and rid me of these but I must do my part, per each step. Such wisdom Sharon! I think the part in bold after the quote in Bill Bright's directly relates to our burdens also.
I lean on God's promise that tells me in Psalm 55 and 68; 1 Peter 5:7, and the one on the YOKE you recently shared from Matthew but Galatians 6:2 tells me that we carry one another and each other's burdens... and praise God for the dear bloggers who do this with and for me!
Blessed are those who bear one another's burdens and helps us to carry them and leave them at the cross! (my additional be attitude)!!! I think you should blog on this... you do just a fantastic job of breaking it down and ordering God's insights!
Now leave those old burdens or share with us to YOKE with you!
Love and hugs,
Peggy
I agree with Karen, number 5 is the hardest!
ReplyDeleteExcellent word here, Sharon.
Hi Sharon -
ReplyDeleteOnce again, we have, on the same day, written a post with some similar "threads." I posted this a.m. about prayer, as well... And then this evening (EST), I came here and noticed...
This post of yours delivered some words that I so needed to read. Yes, Sharon, the "walk away" is such a challenge. I was deeply affected when I read this that you expressed, "... I'm walking away with you…"
That put such relief in me, Sharon. Oh! What a relief to know that our Lord is walking away with us, and walking with us as we walk with Him.
Glory to His awesome name!
Thank you, Sharon for sharing this very helpful post.
THANK YOU, LORD, FOR SHOWING ME THAT I SO NEEDED TO READ THIS!
Great word...from beginning to the end. Each part a step of faith. He meets us there at each step, He gives us faith to walk it out, He continues with us as we walk away....and as He has already completed the work..."It is Finished"
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this Sharon, I needed to read it. That is the easy part, I now need to act on it. wow, not so easy, but I am trying.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless - Nita
What a powerful post. I could use a lot of all 5 steps. Thanks so much for sharing your Godly wisdom with us. I really needed this today since I was awake most of the night with the "worries".
ReplyDeleteKaren - It's a promise that I'm claiming EVERY single day!
ReplyDeleteDebbie - Thanks, buddy. Yup, it's all about the cross...
Joan - Trust, yes. The hardest journey of all, and yet, the most freeing.
Sandie - Thank you for sharing such a vulnerable, honest memory. Isn't it wonderful how sometimes actually going through the motions changes our hearts?
Betty - Oh, how I wrestle, too! I'm a meddler with the things that worry me. So, God is really teaching me a lot about #4 and #5!!
Peggy - Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful message! I will think about a post about yoking together. Hmmm...you always get me thinking!
Sandy - Thank you. Yes, #5 - glad that the Lord doesn't expect me to walk away alone!
Sandra - It brings me joy when God speaks! It also comes to my thoughts - that when I don't have the strength to walk away, I can ask Him for help with that - and He'll literally carry me away.
Janette - God's best words? "I love you." "I forgive you." IT IS FINISHED. Amen!
Nita - These words are my "talk" - now I've got to "walk"! I'm working on it, too!
Denise - Oh my friend! How I know about those sleepless nights. I've had some lately, too. That's where this post came from - a worried, frazzled heart. But, God is there...even if I don't see Him...He's there.
Keep on reading, praying, kneeling, laying down, and walking away, my friends!!
GOD BLESS!
Have we had fun with the Blogger problems of the last few days??? NO!
ReplyDeleteIn words that my friend Debbie might say, "Blogger - me thinketh thou stinketh."
Evidently with the "maintenance" issues they had, many comments were wiped out - including my responses to this post.
However, let me take this quick opportunity to thank you for stopping by, and leaving me such wonderful comments. I have so appreciated reading them.
May God bless us with His strength and peace as we struggle to reach step #5 with our burdens.
Praise His name that He walks with us, every step of the way!
GOD BLESS!