Finding Thankfullness

It can be a hard thing to be thankful in the face of so many troubles. It hasn't been an easy week. With the car wreck, the totaled car, being sick, stressful job situations, money troubles, family battles, rental car issues, and the mini stresses of everyday life I find myself in need of rest. It took a lot I suppose. I knew I needed to rest before, but i was looking for that rest in the wrong places, I had forgotten a simple truth that warms my heart and sends goosebumps down my spine:

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.


29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.


30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Matthew 11

It was not I who needed rest, not my physical body or my mental state...it was my soul. There is no chicken soup for the soul: there is only Jesus...I had been slowly allowing that to become knowledge rather then application - a horrible place to be. That is lukewarm. Lukewarm soup does nothing for your soul.

I heard a wonderful line at church this week, "we are not just learners, we are followers." Lord Jesus, if only I could apply this truth! I must learn about you, but I will only truly learn if I follow - otherwise I will lose site of you...otherwise I will follow one of satan's many devious paths. I am so thankful that even as we get caught in silly worldly prayers and circumstances, Jesus has sent the spirit to intercede. The spirit moves us to pray for one another, he intercedes on our behalf, he prays knowing the true longings of our soul. And those prayers are always answered.

It was of great comfort to read this truth as stated by Spurgeon,

"How encouraging is the thought of the Redeemer's never-ceasing intercession for us. When we pray, He pleads for us; and when we are not praying, He is advocating our cause, and by His supplications shielding us from unseen dangers. We little know what we owe to our Saviour's prayers. When we reach the hill-tops of heaven, and look back upon all the way whereby the Lord our God hath led us, how we shall praise Him who, before the eternal throne, has pleaded our cause against our unseen enemies. "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.""

Lord, may I not lose site of the truly important, may my soul burn for you with an unquenching fire. May I rest only in you and your ways, may I be blind to the worldly temptations, but see everything as you do - tools for your glory and objects of your great love. Even in the depths of despair and misfortune may I know you are there, interceding on my behalf, drawing me closer to you and shining with a radiant glory. Thank you Jesus! Amen.