These were his thoughts in "Morning and Evening" for Monday, March 21, the first day of spring:
"Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the band of Orion?", Job 38:31, AKJV.
"If inclined to boast of our abilities, the grandeur of nature may soon show us how puny we are. We cannot move the least of all the twinkling stars, or quench so much as one of the beams of the morning. We speak of power, but the heavens laugh us to scorn. When the Pleiades shine forth in spring with vermal joy we cannot restrain their influences, and when Orion reigns aloft, and the year is bound in winter's fetters, we cannot relax the icy bands.
The seasons revolve according to the divine appointment, neither can the whole race of men effect a change therein. God wills it and so it must be. He alone can remove the winter of spiritual death from an individual or a person.
Lord, end my winter and let my spring begin. I cannot with all my longing raise my soul out of her death and dullness, but all things are possible with thee. I need celestial influences, the clear shinings of thy love, the beams of thy grace, the light of thy countenance, these are the Pleiades to me. I suffer much from sin and temptation, these are my wintry signs, my terrible Orion. Lord, work wonders in me, and for me."
That expresses my feelings so well. I long for spring in my soul. I'm tired of the darkness, coldness, and numbness. For a long time I was comfortable that way. Now that I've been given a little light, the darkness makes me uncomfortable.
But as hard as I try, I can't raise myself out of that familiar stupor.Only God can as I yield my life to Him. Only God can issue a new season of life into my heart. I can feel it coming on a beautiful day like today.
My prayer for you, for me, for all of us is: Lord, end our winter and let our spring begin. Give us more of Yourself.
Peggy, those words are so fitting and really thought provoking in their own way.
ReplyDeleteSpring in the soul is a truly freeing thought. I sometimes feel like I'm in a bit of a stupor too in my walk with God, my prayer life but the grace of God is that how I feel doesn't matter, He is there anyway, changing me in ways I can't see (I hope:).
I will join you in your prayer Peggy and I hope that today is full of wonderful things for you!:)
Wonderful post Peggy. Many famous people have suffered with depression. I come in agreement as well for any others who do. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteI hate to think how many people are living amdist the cruely of so cold a winter. Some of us have visited that place and relate to the numbness it produces.
ReplyDeletePraying the warmth of His sun is of great comfort today, and always: "Blessed are those whose strength is in you ... As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength ... Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere ... For the LORD God is a sun and shield ... (Psalm 84:5-7, 10-11