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 |    We live much of life amid unique choices. Joy is anchored in The One beyond our life. |
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“There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. . . . Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord. . . .” ― Charles Spurgeon “Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.” ― C. H. Spurgeon “Hope itself is like a star- not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” ― Charles Haddon Spurgeon “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” ― Charles Spurgeon “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” ― Charles Spurgeon “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” ― Charles Spurgeon “When your will is God's will, you will have your will.” ― Charles Spurgeon https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2876959.Charles_Haddon_Spurgeon (Philippians 2:13, KJV)    |
| Yoked with Jesus, I'm free of having to carry my burden by myself. Sadly, I have often forgotten this important principle. I run ahead or I lag behind when Jesus' yoke, like the Pillar of Cloud or Fire of Israel, is waiting to be obeyed, and is unmoved from His Purpose at any given day or time. Did I really become yoked with Jesus at age six when I prayed the prayer to be saved? He said I would become peaceful when I became His child, but I haven't always been peaceful. Fretful, I've struggled with strife of heart. "I've got to get it right, to know I'm saved, to be confident beyond the shadow of a doubt!" That doesn't sound like peace, does it? That doesn't sound like a light burden, does it? Yet how many times in my life have I been on the way to getting into trouble, (big or little, there is no difference before GOD,) but before I could cross that final line to irreparably damage my life in one or many ways something yanked me back, preventing me from going forward with my plans. The yoke of Jesus, a leash for my doglike inner man, running after the flesh. The yoke of Jesus: the Lord saying, "You see restraint. My peace means being kept." The yoke of Jesus, an ability I do not have in a task, that gets done. The yoke of Jesus teaches me to walk in lock-step with Him, learning His rest. One would think it is wise to yoke together two oxen of similar strength, but that is not always the case. Often a much stronger ox takes one side of the yoke with a weaker ox on the other side to train and to build strength in the weaker. The "mentor" ox pulls more than the load for the farmer. He carries the learner, too. For more than fifty years, I have been yoked with Jesus. I have often caused Him to take a heavy step, not budging, until His anxious, impertinent, dancing little learner would quit kicking, standing for the new step. Experience and age are starting to make me a better yokefellow, but anxiety causes me to rattle the bars. Must rest be a lifelong lesson? Word Count: 446 Line Count: 25 Bible Verse: Matthew 11:28-30, KJV Prompt: "Free Verse 'JULY 15TH/AUGUST 15TH PROMPT' 'Being YOKED with JESUS'" by Jay O'Toole on August 10th, 2020 |
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