Praise to the Burden Bearer

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. – (Psalm 68:19)

 

Though we all must face barriers and burdens before us, not one of us was ever meant to bear them alone. God created us with relationship in mind. Even when the original intent for the relationship was fractured with the fall of man, Christ came to create the way for nearness to be restored, and for mankind’s mistakes to be made right before our Maker.

 

We each have a choice. If we choose Christ, and opt to allow Him to be the center of our lives, He comes along side us, forgives and restores us to righteous standing before Him, and is our help and our hope, bearing our burdens and guiding us through that which we were never meant to walk through alone. Because He is God who saves, He alone deserves our praise. May we give Christ all of our praise, and allow Him to bear the burdens that we cannot carry.

 

May praise be present,

to the Lord our King;

Who bears our burdens,

His grace offering.

Let not life’s challenge,

lead our hearts astray;

for only in Christ,

will we find the way.

The Lord’s way is love,

to save and restore;

to walk alongside,

give strength to endure.

All praise unto You,

our Savior and King;

for in You alone,

we find what strength means.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our God and Savior who daily bears our burdens when we seek You and willingly place them in Your hands. Thank You that no matter what comes, Your strength is sufficient to carry us through. Forgive us for attempting to bear our burdens alone, or for questioning Your ability to carry that which is weighing us down. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will come before You and ask You to bear what we are not meant to carry. Help our hearts remain in a perpetual place of praise unto You, for You deserve all of our adoration and honor for who You are. Lead us to love others with a love like Yours, and may many come to know You personally as a result. Be exalted O God, as we praise You, the beautiful bearer of our burdens. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 23:6

Fortitude for Fear

Fear in all its fury, can be a catalyst for change. When we take pause and really look at the source, Christ will lead us to a place of understanding whether it is a healthy fear that is from Him, placed in us to compel us to action, or if it is some sort of terror that is tormenting our hearts, straight from the pit of hell. In order to know the difference, we must be willing to be transparent about the fear that we are facing. There are times when it is an obvious nudge from our Heavenly Father, yet there are other times where we may need to actually unpack that which has us frozen or ready to take flight, with others who are faithfully following Christ.

 

O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O Lord. – (Psalm 139:1-4)

 

We are known and loved so completely, that we need not remain frozen in fear. He sees, knows and hears all that we face, feel and endure. God even is aware of our response to all that comes our way, before we ever respond. To be known and loved so completely, leaves no room remaining for fear to have a foothold. May we rise up in faith, giving our every fear to our Heavenly Father, and allow Him to grant us the fortitude to face all that comes our way.

 

In fear’s ugly grip,

let us not remain;

for Christ is our strength,

and His freedom reigns.

O Lord, You have searched,

and know me so well;

You know every thought,

the words I will tell.

Thank You in that space,

of being well known;

You strengthen our hearts,

as Your grace is shown.

Let Your strength arise,

and give our heart wings;

so that we may soar,

and of Your truth sing.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You have searched us and You know us, and yet You love. Thank You that in You, we need not fear. Thank You that despite the unknowns and awful that come at us, You are present and You are greater. Forgive us for freezing up in our fear, and teach us to trust You more. Help us to bring our every fear before You, and to speak out to others, when we are meant to share the burden that is too heavy for us to carry alone. Lead us to love others in such a way, that we too, will help others bear burdens that they are unable to withstand alone. Show us how to support, love and pray for one another as You would have us do. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we face every fear in Your strength, confident of Your love and faithfulness. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, You who have done great things.  Who, O God, is like You? – Psalm 71:19

To Persist in Prayer

Sometimes, it feels as if we are crying out in vain. Our prayers may feel unheard, as they seemingly go unanswered. Like the Gentile woman who was seeking healing for her daughter before Jesus, we too must humble ourselves at His feet, and persistently pray, trusting that He is able to do abundantly more than we could hope or request.

 

As the woman responded to Jesus when He implied that He was not there fore the Gentiles, her answer in faith, moved Him to action. Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. – (Matthew 15:28)

 

May humility and perseverance fuel our faithful prayers, as Christ sees and hears all that we ask in His Name.

 

When prayers feel unheard,

we’re called to press on;

trust He is faithful,

may our hope be strong.

For He hears our cries,

each request we make;

the Lord is for us,

He moves for our sake.

He sees and He knows,

the faith that we hold;

and heals where we hurt,

to help make us bold.

Let us each go forth,

and share what He’s done;

our faithful Father,

His Spirit and Son.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that though we do not always see You moving on our behalf, You hear our prayers and are doing far more than we could even begin to imagine. Thank You that You consider us faithful, when we are persistent in prayer. Forgive us for lacking the fortitude to stay in the fight when all around us seems to fail. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will persistently pray in faith, trusting that You hear and are doing abundantly more than we can see or understand. Lead us to love others with Your relentless love, and help many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we faithfully persist in prayer, even when we cannot see any answers on the horizon. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Listen… be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. – Proverbs 23:19

Compassion in Confrontations

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick. – (Matthew 14:14)

 

Despite having just learned of the death of His dear cousin, John the Baptist, Jesus set aside the solitude He was seeking to mourn, and chose to heal the hurts of others instead. Christ’s compassion is so great, that He chose to set aside His own sorrow, and allow His light and life to flow into those who had not yet come to know what true love looks like. When we are suffering or stuck in a sorrowful space, we need not stand alone. For Christ, who came and experienced loss and pain and suffering far greater than our own grief, is loving and kind, and will be compassionate and close, if we call on His Name. May we remember to reach out to our Redeemer in all thing at all times, for He is compassionate and has wholeness in store for all who call on Him.

 

For Jesus has known,

the darkness of grief;

the anguish of loss,

the need to retreat.

Yet in His sorrow,

He kept His eyes up;

healing the hurting,

with His tender touch.

May we do likewise,

no matter what comes;

allow Christ to move,

so His will is done.

Christ calls us to love,

as He has loved us;

in kindness be near,

let Him fill each cup.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the God of compassion and the Healer of our souls. Thank You that You came and showed us that even in You own season of sorrow, You set aside Your space to withdraw when You saw needs that You could meet in the moment. Thank You that You modeled compassion that was not limited by circumstance. Forgive us for being blinded by our own sorrow or pain, and help us to see the needs surrounding us that You can meet through us. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will be willing and available in all things and at all times, despite what we are going through. Lead us to love with kindness and compassion, just as You so tenderly and completely love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, as they recognize the hope that is held in You alone. Be exalted O God, as we choose to convey compassion and kindness, even in the midst of our greatest confrontations. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power. – Daniel 2:23

A Promise to Enter Rest

Therefore, since the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. – (Romans 4:1)

Though these words were originally written to the Jewish Christians who were likely in danger of turning back from their promised rest in Christ, due to the difficulty of the present reality that was clouding their perspective, we too, can listen and heed the advice.  For all who call on His Name and trust in Him, the promise of entering Christ’s eternal rest remains.  Though we all fall short, for each of us are sinful and broken, yet in Christ, if we choose to trust Him and persevere in His presence, we can overcome our current circumstances and carry on into the call that He has placed on our lives, and remember that the Lord’s promise is for us, and He shall give us rest.

When we are in Christ,

there is promised rest;

for He knows our needs,

and His ways are best.

No matter what comes,

His promises stand;

our future glory,

secure in His hand.

So let us beware,

to not fall away;

let not life’s troubles,

lead our hearts astray.

Hold fast to the truth,

and let us each run;

He’ll strengthen our hearts,

our great Holy One.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You promise us Your rest, both in our present places, and into eternity.  Thank You that in You, we are forgiven and granted the strength to press on and persevere on the path to which You have called us to travel.  Forgive us for our lack of fortitude in the fight, when weariness overwhelms us, and teach us to trust You more, so that we will depend on You in such a way, that we bring everything to You as it comes.  Lead us to love others with the same relentless and selfless love that You give to us, and may many come into a lasting relationship with You as a result.  Be glorified O God, as we hold fast to Your promises and receive the rest that You readily grant us.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence. – Acts 2:28

To Receive Rest

Clearly, Christ is calling me into a season of rest, despite the dizzying pace of life all around me. In the midst of the craziness, I find myself blessed with a weekend without an agenda. This morning, I was able to wake without an alarm, and the time I rose, was a few hours later than my typical Saturday morning movement. Today holds only the honor of time with treasured friends. No schedule. No must do’s. Just time together, enjoying catching up after nearly a year since we last gathered. Rather than rushing around to take care of errands and schedules and the this and that’s that need to be accomplished, today will simply require me to be in the moment, and enjoy the precious time that I have been granted.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – (Matthew 11:28)
He is so faithful to provide as we choose to abide. As I continue to hand Him my heavy burdens, Christ creates these precious places where my heart is filled and my spirit is refreshed, as He knows what I need and how to best give my weary soul, rest. May we continue to come before Him who is abundantly able to supply all of our needs, and allow the miraculous exchange to take place – our weariness for His glorious rest.
Come all you weary,

for the Lord knows best;

how to lift us up,

and grant our souls rest.

He takes our burdens,

and carries the load;

gives strength where we’re weak,

and hope we can hold.

The Lord is faithful,

come near and abide;

let Christ come refresh,

as His love will guide.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us where we are, and for being the place where we can find rest. Thank You that we can come to You when we are weary and burdened, and You give us rest. Thank You that the rest You give is far greater than that which we would even ask or hope for, as You know what we need better than we do. Forgive us for not seeking You in our weariness, and teach us to trust You even when our burdens feel unbearable. Lead us to love others with the same sort of tenacity that You have towards each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we come to You with our weariness and receive Your remarkable rest. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. – Genesis 21:6

Blessed With Rest

Rest. This is not such a familiar term in my vernacular. I know I need it, yet like a small child that does not want to nap, I avoid rest as much as possible, fearing that if I actually slow down, I may never get back up again.

Normally, when my alarm sounds, I bound out of bed and begin my day with enthusiasm. (As I make my way to the cheerfully waiting coffee maker) This morning, I have no recollection of my alarm even sounding. It must have gone off, for when I awoke two and a half hours later than I normally do, my phone was buried beneath my pillow. Surprisingly, I did not feel panicked nor rushed, rather I felt something I have not felt in years – I actually woke feeling rested. I methodically made my way about the house, waking my boys, preparing each of us to exit in a timely manner, yet not once, did anxiousness enter in. It was all about efficiency and informing each boy about the time limit they had if they still wanted to make the quick stop that had been requested the night prior. Out the door we went at the time I had set before them, each of us ready to take on the day.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – (Matthew 11:28)

Though I do not intend to make this later rising time a habit, God knew what I needed today. Despite challenges that awaited me when I woke, I was much more resilient to face each one, because I was rested rather than run down. He will grant us rest, even at times when we don’t realize how desperately we need it. May we have open eyes and hearts to His calling us close, and allow Christ to grant us comfort and rest, as we give our every burden to He who is more than able to bear them all.

 

Oh Lord, grant us rest,

From burdens that come;

Please carry the weight,

so Your will is done.

When we are weary,

Lord give us Your rest;

For only in You,

can we be refreshed.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that though we grow weary and worn, and at times don’t even recognize the reality of our own exhaustion, thank You that You see and know what we need far better than we do. Thank You that You provide as we abide. Forgive us for not taking time to slow down and simply rest in Your presence. Teach us to trust You more, so that we are more aware of when You are calling us to come close and simply be seated in Your presence. Lead us to love others well, just as You so generously pour out upon each of us. May many come into a saving relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we rest and find refreshment in You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; …write them on the tablet of your heart. – Proverbs 3:3

Correction as a Catalyst for Change

If good people correct me, I will consider it a good thing. If they criticize me, I will accept it like a warm welcome. But my prayer will always be against the wicked and the evil that they do. – (Psalm 141:5, ERV)

 

Being rebuked or corrected by a righteous person is a kindness. If someone who is walking well with the Lord recognizes wrong in me and brings it to my attention, it is my job to humbly consider their words, keep quiet, and consider their correction an act of love. Any confusion or uncertainty about what has been spoken, ought to be brought before the Lord in prayer. We are shown how to present our petitions before the Lord in this way: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. – (Psalm 139:24)

 

May we readily receive rebuke from the righteous, and prayerfully present ourselves to the Lord. Let the Lord search us and know us, so that we may be cleansed from all unrighteousness and led in the light of life everlasting.

 

Let each correction,

be considered, heard;

presented to Christ,

compared to His word.

Is what has been said,

truth spoken in love?

If so, receive it,

direct from above.

Continue to pray,

against all the wrong;

down with the wicked,

lift praise up in song.

For God sees and knows,

our heart and our mind;

He longs to lead us,

to glory divine.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are good and loving, and that You place us in one another’s lives to speak truth in love. Thank You that correction is for our benefit, and intended to draw us closer to You. Forgive us for refusing correction or being defensive when another speaks truth in love to us. Teach us to trust You more, so that we may keep quiet and hear what is spoken, and bring anything that we are uncertain about before You. Lead us to love others with a love that is not afraid to speak truth in such a way, that the recipient is directed straight to You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, Lord. Be exalted O God, as we receive correction and change direction where it is necessary. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad. – Chronicles 16:31

Sing Out, O My Soul

Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. – (Psalm 63:7)

 

It never ceases to amaze me when, despite chaos or struggles surrounding me, if I feel safe, songs rise up in my heart. The very space of safety that our hearts are able to hold, even when security does not make sense, is Christ’s presence so close, that we are in the shadow of His wings. It is here that we find rest, release the raw and the real that we are in, and discover His help, giving our hearts reason to rejoice. As we discover Christ’s help and how very near He is, we cannot help but sing praise for who He is and all that He has done. May we recognize His help, and sing praise to Him in the sweet shadow of His protective wings.

 

Sing out, O my soul,

for safety is here;

in Christ’s sweet shadow,

He calls us, draw near.

His wings wrap around,

protecting us all;

our help and our hope,

He’ll not let us fall.

Sing out, O my soul,

may songs ever rise;

of Christ’s faithfulness,

and hope realized.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our help, and our safety. Thank You that You keep us close in the shadow of Your wings. Thank You that in that safe space, we can release all of our burdens and fix our eyes and hearts entirely on You, giving You the proper praise that You deserve. Forgive us for not recognizing You nearness, and for not singing out the songs that are ready for release. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will recognize the security we have in Your hands, and know how Your help is available and at the ready when we call on Your Name. May songs of praise be ever on our lips, as we choose to sing of Your faithfulness, even through the difficult. Lead us to love others well, just as You so wonderfully love each of us. May many come into a saving relationship with You, Lord. Be exalted O God, as we sing out to You from the shadow of Your wings, remembering always that You are our help and our hope. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  – Galatians 5:22-23

Anxious for Answers

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – (Philippians 4:6)

 

God hears our prayers. He knows our heart and is concerned about our every need. The Lord is our provider, yet much of the time, we must move forward toward God in an act of faith, presenting our needs before Him, before we see the blessings of God released. In the book of Matthew, a leper had heard about Jesus and His ability to heal. His desire to be whole was great enough that he was willing to walk forward in faith, risking rejection, because the reward was well worth the potential risk.

 

A man with leprosy came and knelt before Him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. – (Matthew 8:2-3)

 

What known need should we present before Christ? He is willing, we simply must come. Jesus goes beyond the hearing and healing, He comes close and touches those who are deemed untouchable, and calls us clean. May we release anxiousness and fear unto Him, and with prayer, petition and thanksgiving, present our every request unto the Lord.

 

Do not be anxious,

in spaces of lack;

but call on the Lord,

who will have our back.

He hears each request,

presented in prayer;

He sees and He knows,

our God always cares.

He knows what is best,

and willingly moves;

to help and to heal,

His faithfulness proves.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that despite how things appear, we need never be anxious nor fearful in You. Thank You that we need only come before You and present our requests unto You. Thank You that You hear our every prayer, and You move on our behalf in the way that You see best. Forgive us for our fearfulness when things don’t go the way we think they ought to, despite Your promised presence. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will believe You are working things out for the best, even when the evidence we see, seems to speak otherwise. Lead us to love others as You so completely love each of us. May many come into a saving relationship with You, Lord. Be exalted O God, as we release our anxieties to You, and present our requests by prayer and petition with thanksgiving before You, trusting that You will move on our behalf in the way that You deem best. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Because of the tender mercy of our God, …the rising sun will come to us from heaven. – Luke 1:78