Jesus, I need You..there must be a way to find You Near — for You, Lord are the Sanctuary that Love keeps….a Prayer of appeal and devotion from LWillows...sometimes life, hope and faith are deeply personal experiences and testimonies, yet the hope that Faith brings is for all to know. May you be given Love and encouragement today.
Tears fall, I turn from the ocean of grief that rises.
I search for the one oasis that can save me; my only hope…
huddling in a cave of the deepest silence
I pulled all up and around my face like a cloak.
There was nothing on the outside of that moment that could help me.
I could only seek You, Jesus..
I need You. Christ Jesus, please be there..Please be here with me.
I closed my eyes pulling into a darkness so far that it approaches light. This, my tunnel, searching, for the path to Your Cross. I had gone to you before. Before and before. Found. Christ Jesus. You always did come Near on Love’s appeal.
There must be a way to find you Near again.
I know that You are can be with me.
I know that You can be Here. I appealed…Oh my Lord I am seeking you.
I began to speak and pour out my heart, knowing that You would hear me
as as I spoke to You…as all of me fell like the whole a being with nothing attached to an “elsewhere”, or an other gravity holding me….
I began to see Your Face.
It looked like many thousands of lights coming together into a Form
that was leaning in towards me with Love.
You looked like a radiance, a galaxy unknown but Real, able to pull close enough to Touch with arms that reached into eternity from an eternity.
You felt like Comfort, My Father of Forever, a Nest of Love that I would never want to leave. Tears of love and relief replaced all else.
I told you each thing that was heavy upon my heart
Every burden fell from me as I unfurled like a child in the arms of her Father.
All that had formed me into a frightened and hopeless one poured
out to you.
I reached the end of my own limits.
I shivered with the pain and anxiety all that has held me captive
and wept before you at of that which has caused suffering in my heart.
I sobbed and groaned of the obstacles that I have faced now and before,
and I pleaded to You from my loss of hope.
You Held me in Comfort as wept. My tears ran into a river that flowed towards Your Holy Cross.
I became aware that you had known mortal pain and knew the deepest of our suffering, much more than anything I could be feeling in that moment.
I knew that your immortal Heart heard every voice and each heart that called out to You. I was unable to fathom how great You Love is but I could feel it Near to me.
I started to remember the Promises that You spoke in the Bible
and I affirmed them before you.
Was my Faith strong enough? Help me of my weakness…
I was moved to speak to You of the verses most that my heart
cherished most from the Psalms.
Joy started to cover me.
These words joined us more… They were part of You, of Your Life.
You came closer; so Near that I felt I could touch Your shining Face.
Father, Lord Jesus- I felt the love of your unceasing embrace.
I began to feel You, Lord encouraging me and Praying with me.
No longer weeping, I was drawn into prayer and devotion.
Many moments flew by as I soaked in Your Love and Presence.
My heart was Comforted as nothing in this world could provide.
Lord, you asked me to be bold and move out in new directions; to carry your Love
to places where fear used to live.
I could not question your prompting.
Lord, you asked me to move despite my own hindrances and weakness; to step out with the courage of Your Spirit.
I could not question your wisdom.
Lord you asked me to remember that You were with me.
You said that by Your power I am strengthened.
Lord, Your Presence is Here, direct and Near.
I am living, yet made new for You live in and with me,
and I am made; created to be with and for You.
For, You Lord, are the sanctuary that Love keeps;
the Guardian of all that I seek,
The One that sees me weep and the Beloved of my hearts fullest reap.
Father, Christ and Lord Here and Near
Thank you, Abba for healing every tear.
© 2017 Linda Willows
Art by J Kirk Richards
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