the heart of things

sometimes i get so caught up in my own thoughts, that i do not read the words of God. i do not read the stories of Jesus, when he walked the earth. but this morning i have been reading. i have been soaking. my heart is open.

lifting you up, my friends, i see marriages, and relationships: friendships, partnerships, vocational relationships, family, old bonds, long-distance longings, newly established connections, and my heart senses pain and neglect, like a thin, worn-out fabric, and weakness, like a dry, cracking leather bag, unable to hold together much longer.

so this morning, i am praying for oil to pour out on each of you for the healing of relationships. i am praying for those of us who have gotten into the habit of giving up too soon, and those who have wearied of holding out for hope, and let bitterness set in. i am asking God for fresh love, healing salve, and comfort.

Jesus spoke, and healed people, and he never just touched on the surface of things. he healed down to the roots of things, he took care of everything that was not right. there was never any hiding of motivations or festering of problems before the healing of Christ. in one healing, there were men who brought their friend on a stretcher, and climbing to the top of the crowded house where Jesus was:

“they let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. seeing their faith, he said, ‘friend, your sins are forgiven you.’ the scribes and the pharisees began to reason, saying, ‘who is this man who speaks blasphemies? who can forgive sins, but God alone? but Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, ‘why are you reasoning in your hearts? which is easier to say, ‘your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘get up and walk’?

“‘but so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ — he said to the paralytic - ‘i say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.’ immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.” luke 5.

Father in Heaven,
forgive me of my words spoken out of faith, forgive me for closing my ears to you, and refusing to see through your eyes to the heart of things. help me to listen to you deeper. help me to stop reasoning in my heart, that things are fine, while overfocusing on what i think needs to be solved. help me to see those friends you have given me, who carry me, unrepentant, to your help, your healing, your forgiveness. heal and save each relationship in my life, from becoming built on anything less than you.

the exacting truth of Jesus Christ is our hope for right relationships. may each of us tilt our heads up and look up for his oil to pour down on our heads.