I can't remember the last time one of our Pastor's sermons didn't bring tears. I'm usually tucked away in a room nursing Elijah, and I don't always hear every word preached, but God is faithful and kind to give me nourishing manna, sometimes in the form of just one sentence, and when that manna comes, the tears come, too.
You see, I go to church every week a desperate woman. Desperate to be fed with the truth of His Word, to be encouraged by the fellowship of the saints, to feast at His table. I often walk through our church doors with a heart battered and bruised from daily battles with self, and a spirit that is heavy and discouraged because there is such a dim reflection of Jesus in me. O wretched woman that I am!
Sanctification is a painful process, and it's easy in the moment---those moments when selfishness and strife taint our conversations, when we're so busy jockeying to please ourselves for a moment of quiet or the taste of the last cookie, when we've failed to correct or discipline with love and patience and grace, when trials wear us thin--- to forget that He is faithful to give us our daily bread. His provision keeps coming down, as my Pastor so beautifully reminds us with these words:
"One of the ways Jesus referred to Himself is by saying “I am the bread that is coming down from heaven.” It is interesting. You won’t find it in the Scriptures that way. It says “I am the bread that came down from Heaven….which came down from heaven.” But the Greek says “I am the bread that is coming down from heaven.”
Day by day, Jesus provides for you. Day by day your sins are covered. Day by day..."
His provision is limitless! It is sufficient! It doesn't expire, weaken over time, rot, or run out! My Savior never hears my begging only to respond with, "You've exceeded your daily limit," or "I just gave you plenty of grace, and then you turned around and did THAT. Sorry. No more for you." Oh for grace to remember this blessed truth when sin and self and Satan seem to reign!
"Give us this day our daily bread..." Yes! Yes! Yes!
With love,
Trisha
Yes, Trisha! Part of what makes us sanctified through motherhood is the fact that we do get so weary sometimes, but there is a gift in that fact, for it draws us to Christ begging for bread only He can give.
ReplyDeleteYou go to church in the same state I do ;) And I rarely make it through a service without tears too. I'm so glad Jesus is with me, pouring our His grace on me second by second! "I have a great need for Christ and a great Christ for my need" Love you friend!
ReplyDeleteYeees. Me too. Nursing the baby in the back room,hanging on every life-giving word, realizing how gracious He is.
ReplyDeleteWhat we can ever fathom or understand of God's Grace is only ever the tip of the iceberg. I'm learning so much about His Grace at the moment, and it is so often overwhelming. How great is His love! When I despair at my humanness, being reminded that He sees me through the blood of His Son, perfect and without flaw, I am so blessed. What a God we serve.
ReplyDeleteLimitless provision!!Our good God supplies our every need! I remember those days of being back in the nursery with my babies too. How I longed to hear one little word of refreshing. And, like with you, He was faithful to supply a word and help me get through my week.
ReplyDeleteSending love your way~
Beautiful, precious friend...yes, beautiful!! The LORD provides exactly what we need each and every moment of each and every day...what a blessing it is!!! Interesting...I was brought to tears in our sermon yesterday too. Manna...it is Precious and Good, and Wonderful!!!
ReplyDeleteLove you!
Camille XO
Amen and Amen! It seems that many Sundays I don't make through the first hymn without tears.
ReplyDeleteYou hit it simply and beautifully,and right on the head, dear Trisha. "But the Greek says “I am the bread that is coming down from heaven.” Love this- news to me.
ReplyDeleteLove you Much - Grace, Peace and Joy,
Jojo
Love, love, love!
ReplyDeleteBread coming down... like manna. I love this. Although I'm not in the back room with an infant at my church, I know too well that desperate hunger for nourishing truth.
ReplyDelete