Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 5, 2017
I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. Hosea 11:4
You were not created to bear your burdens alone. God is there to come alongside you and lift your burdens with His love and kindness. Burdens borne alone will break your spirit and crush your confidence. It is the compassion of Christ that lifts you to new levels of love and assurance. Do not hide your burdens in the depths of your dark side, for if you stuff hurt into the back of your mind, it will slowly seep back out in unhealthy behaviors. Praise your Savior, for He daily bears your burdens.
Someone may have let you down in a big way. Because you loved them much, they have disappointed you greatly. You love profoundly, but they rarely reciprocate with the same degree of love and kindness. This subtle and sometimes not so subtle rejection has grown into a big time burden. You’ve tried to ignore its effect on your heart but over time, your heart has become calloused. Ironically, you’ve become like the one who has inflicted the harm. This burden of hurt will crush you if you do not come to terms with its raw reality. Service for your Savior and busyness in Kingdom activities will not erase its effect.
This is first and foremost between you and your heavenly Father. Go to Him and lay your burdens at His feet. Allow Him to tie up and bind your broken heart with His kindness, love, and forgiveness. He alone can bear this burden. No need to patronize the provider of this pain or reject the one who has resisted your love. Instead, take it to the Lord and trust Him to bear this burden on your behalf. His love and kindness ablate attitudes birthed out of dire dysfunction, so focus on your heavenly Father’s soul food.
Manna from heaven is full of nourishment for your soul. His Word is warm fragrant bread for your life. His answered prayers are cool, refreshing, living water that results in mature faith and garners hope for your heart. Let the Lord nourish your needy self with eternal nutrients. He will nurse your hurting heart back to health. A healthy heart made whole by its Maker is in a position of strength to do the same for friends. He bears your burden so you can be a burden-bearer for another.
Make it a point to ask others about their tears and trials. Your kindness and love can be the tie that binds someone’s sick condition of despair into one of hope and encouragement. Look for a way to bear a brother’s or sister’s burden in prayer, for it positions you to leverage kindness and love on behalf of the Lord. Prayer is extremely efficient and effective, so be a channel of Christ’s love and kindness by saying a simple prayer.
The Holy Spirit is the glue of grace, so pray for His regular and robust filling. Love and kindness are evidence that you are overflowing with the Spirit’s influence. So share your burdens with your heavenly Father and those you can trust. Then bear the burdens of other people in the faith. These are the ties that bind and lift you to live.
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2, NKJV).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, bind my heart to Your heart by Your great love.Application
How can I best receive the love of Christ and rest in Him?Related Reading
Psalm 68:19, 81:6; Matthew 13:15; James 2:8 Today’s reading is taken from Boyd’s most popular book: Seeking Daily the Heart of God, a 365 day devotional.Post/Tweet today
The Holy Spirit is the glue of grace, so pray for His regular and robust filling. #boundbylove #WisdomHuntersWorship Resource
4 minutes – Christine D’Clario: Love Has Found Us Check out Shana and Boyd’s newest devotional book Two Minutes in the Bible for Women. Available now! If you are blessed by these daily devotionals please prayerfully consider a donation to support Wisdom Hunters Resources. We are trusting the Lord for His provision. Learn how to help. Our free Apple app
