It is written, when you search for Me with all of your heart, you will find Me. And believers have done that as He led their way. When asked how they found Him, one said, “Pray in tongues for hours daily”. One said, “Call on the Name of Jesus”. Another said, “Come with the Blood of Jesus and the Word”. “Fast and pray”. “Worship”. “Read the Bible”. And they came and they found Him, as He led them, and shared their story. Then, religious dogma, rituals and denominations sprang up based on how God showed up in their group. In this day, there will be a melding of the best of all denominational truth and revival fire. Finney, Spurgeon, Wesley, Edwards, the Moravian Revival, Azusa Street, the healing revival, the Jesus movement, Argentina, Toronto, Brownsville… Let the fire fall, Lord!
I was desperate for Him. I prayed. I read the Word. I spoke the Word. I worshipped by rote. Check lists and prayer sheets.
I sought You at first through form and ritual, seeking You with all of my heart. It was not my burnt offerings You wanted, but my heart. And You gently moved me into a place of rest in You.
Now I choose the unformed rhythms of grace. I choose to sit with You, my Lord. I put my lists down, no longer content to go through the motions. I seek Your face. I need You to bring me into Your presence- however and whenever You choose. I am a clay pot for you to mold. Or a sheep for You to lead. You are my God. My Father. And I trust You to lead me beside still waters and fill me to overflowing with You. However You decide. However You lead. I worship You. I cannot live without You.
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Isaiah 1:11-15
“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?”
Says the Lord.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle.
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
Or of lambs or goats.
1 Samuel 15:22
So Samuel said:
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
Hebrews 10:8
Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law),
Mark 12:32-33
So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Matthew 11:28-30
The Message
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”