Back to the Throne of Grace

Photo Copyright 2010 Alycia W. Morales

Sometimes it's necessary to get real. To get real with God. To get real with yourself. To get real with your spouse, a best friend or a child. Sometimes, we just need to lay down our everything and find ourselves face-planted at the Throne of Grace.

Which is exactly where I found myself on Sunday.

We arrived late for church. Still adjusting to the newest "flavor" (every body has it's own unique identity, just as we each have ours), I groaned within myself as we joined in the worship. Half of me wanted desperately to be there; the other half argued how rotten I felt and wanted to go home to rest.

Until the guest ministers performed their special song about telling Satan it's time for him to GO and for us to remain strong in the Lord. The first two lines had been sung, and the Spirit started moving in my heart. I stood and bore witness to the words of the song. After, I sat back in the pew and awaited the wisdom of our pastor.

Another surprise. He'd allowed someone else to speak this week. The man rose and opened the word of God. This is what he spoke:

"'The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
 Because He has anointed Me
 To preach the gospel to the poor;
 He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
 To proclaim liberty to the captives
 And recovery of sight to the blind,
 To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.'"
 Luke 4:18-19 

And that's all it took. The tears started to well up within my eyes, and I fought to contain them. As they rolled down my cheeks, I fought to control the sobs that tried so hard to force their way up my throat and out of my mouth. I felt my heart swell with the comfort that only the King of Kings can bring. I felt my burdens melt away as I came before the Throne of Grace. I cried before the One who loves me. Because the Word would be fulfilled in my hearing that day. (Luke 4:21)

So many times I need God to bring the gospel into my life, because I am poor in spirit. So many times I need healing, because I am brokenhearted. So many times I need liberty, because I am held captive by areas of my life I desire to control. So often, I need recovery of sight, because I am blind to my own incapability. So often, I need oppression to be lifted from my shoulders, because I am burdened beyond my own ability. So often, I need to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, because I don't want to remain where I am in life. I want more of Him and less of me. I want to move forward, not remain in today. I want to press on toward the goal, not forgetting the dreams He's instilled in me. I want Jesus. And nothing more. Certainly no less.

How about you? Are you, like me, suffering under the weight of a burden that isn't ours to bear? Do you need to let go of what's holding you down and allow God to lift your heart and your head? Let Him be your liberty today. Go ahead and cry out. Don't worry about who hears you or what they think. Get real with God today. Come boldly before His throne of grace, that you may obtain mercy and find help in your time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)