entering Your rest

Jesus is alive! thank You Lord for giving us rest even now. i've been thinking alot about 'rest' these past few days. or rather the word has been always coming to me. rest isn't about lazing around, or sleeping, which i unfortunately do alot at the expense of resting in Your presence or going about important work.. rest is about ceasing to strive on my own strength. 

again and again i keep reminding myself "not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit' says the Lord" (zech4:6) that i will be able to live a life that's pleasing to You.. but it's so frustrating when i know i should learn to deny myself and discipline my will to wake up early to be in Your presence. yet i don't or i can't. do i lack the love for You? love for You acts out in obedience. do i lack the inner desire to spend time with You? has it translated only into head knowledge again i dare not say.. Jesus have mercy on me.. by Your death and resurrection (today! happy blessed easter!) i can say it is possible.. teach me to rest in Your power, not keep striving on my own.. teach me to yield my will to Your moulding.. 'i will jump into the holy river, i will lose myself to my deliverer'.. such faith i need, to have complete trust in letting go of control.. letting my grip over the time i spend, how i want to spend my time.. such a difficult lesson.. but God you give more grace.. thank You for the cross, the mighty cross.. thank You for life that pours forth from a blood-stained cross.. amen.. 

Abandoned 

utterly abandoned to the Holy Ghost! 

seeking all His fullnesss, whatever the cost; 

cutting all the moorings, launching in the deep 

of His mighty power - strong to save and keep. 

utterly abandoned to the Holy Ghost! 

oh! the sinking, sinking, until self is lost! 

until the emptied vessel lies broken at His feet; 

waiting til His filling shall make the work complete. 

utterly abandoned to the will of God; 

seeking for no other path than my Master trod; 

leaving ease and pleasure, making Him my choice; 

waiting for His guidance, listening for His voice. 

utterly abandoned! no will of my own; 

for time and for eternity, His, and His alone; 

all my plans and purposes lost in His sweet will, 

having nothing, yet in Him all things possessing still. 

utterly abandoned! it's so sweet to be 

captive in His bonds of love, yet wondrously free; 

free from sin's entanglements, free from doubt and fear, 

fear from every worry, burden grief, or care. 

utterly abandoned! oh, the rest is sweet, 

as i tarry, waiting, at His blessed feet; 

waiting for the coming of the Guest divine, 

who my inmost being will perfectly refine. 

lo! He comes and fills, me, Holy Spirit sweet! 

i, in Him, am satisfied! i, in Him, complete! 

and the light within my soul will nevermore grow dim 

while i keep my covenant - abandoned unto Him! 

 - author unknown