A Prayer about Jesus’ Longing to Be Gracious to Us
This is what the Sovereign Lord,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.
You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’
Therefore you will flee! You said,
‘We will ride off on swift horses.’
Therefore your pursuers will be swift! . . .
till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop,
like a banner on a hill.”
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him! (Isa. 30:15–18 NIV)
Dear Jesus, it’s a great joy to begin this day knowing you long to be gracious to us. The way you care for your people is simply irresistible, and yet, foolishly, we do resist.
There are times when “riding off on swift horses” looks like a great option— when the demands upon us seem to far outweigh the resources with us; when we reach our emotional limits and exhaust our mental reserves; when tiredness gives way to “attitude” and patience gives way to pettiness. Even then, you woo us to yourself— especially then, we need you.
The call to repentance and rest, and quietness and trust, comes to us like a kiss from heaven. Jesus, we find great comfort in your pursuing love.
I need, again, to learn my limits. Help me say yes to the right things and no to the unnecessary things, Jesus. Help me reestablish the rhythms of a gospel-driven life.
I repent of letting needs dictate my pace. I repent of trying to be my own savior, yet again. I repent of doing more things for you than spending unrushed time with you. I repent of listening to the squawking voices of human parakeets more than the comforting voice of the blessed Paraclete—God the Holy Spirit.
Jesus, as you rise to show us compassion, we will sit down, shut up, be still, and let you. We pray with great anticipation, in your merciful and mighty name.
Amen.