Listen to Isaiah 52:1-2 "Awake, awake O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again. Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion."
Are you a Christian, living in the past? Are you not understanding that the Bible and all it teaches is to be looked at as present tense, ongoing and breathing?
What does one of my most beloved preachers say about this? Oswald Chambers states "As long as we whine at circumstances we shall experience the extraordinary trick of providence which keeps us in those circumstances until we learn our lesson."
That is hard truth and uncomfortable to face.
We know from Matthew 11:28-29 that Jesus states, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
We need to understand what a yoke is. It is a wooden beam that is attached to two animals so that they can work together. Sometimes it is paired between a weaker animal, so that the stronger animal can pull more of the workload. This is done in union.
Isn't it interesting how Jesus gives us direction? We need to take action according to His words above. We are to "take the yoke", we are to "come to Him".
If you claim to be a passive person, this is not a place to be found passive.
Let the chains around your neck become a welcoming yoke from Jesus.
Are you simply making bad choices, excusing your sin or being lazy in your walk with the Lord?
He is teaching so much in the Bible. Are you teachable? I can say that the Lord Jesus Christ is so patient, but He paid quite a price for you to just live with your "crosses to bear".
Many of us stay in our chains because of familiarity and comfort. As Dr. Phil said (back when I used to watch him many years ago) "There must be a payoff". I would state that a payday like that is miserable compared to the Lord's yoke which is easy and His burden is light.
The point of this blog today is to make a point to examine how you might be keeping chains around your neck, as Isaiah states. The Lord has provided a way out. We all may have our fleshly struggles, but it does not mean that we need to submit to them.
Are your washed in the blood of the Lamb? If so, that Holy Spirit lives in you and cannot accept continual sinful ways, even if they are as "innocent" as self pity or low self esteem. There is power in that Blood. I won't be a prosperity preacher to you, but I will state that these are some basics that prosperity of the heart is awarded.
May you find yourself in a new place in your heart today, better than yesterday and ready for growth tomorrow.
