"I count myself one of the number of those who write as they learn and learn as they write." ~St. Augustine

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Have your way

I could almost see him. It was as if for a moment I was there. The dusty road. The heat. The man riding in on a donkey. We were singing in my friend's living room and for a moment I was mentally and emotionally transported back in time 2000 years. I could almost see him and I was one of the crowd singing, "Hosanna".

The song we were singing last night is about our hearts and eyes turning to Him.
The words of the song say,
"Hosanna! Hosanna!
You are the God who saves us.
Worthy of all our praises!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Come have Your way among us.
We welcome You here Lord Jesus.

As I was singing and worshipping through song, I felt as though I was one of the crowd saying these things to this man, this wonderful man, upon the donkey. It was a unique, powerful and special moment. And, then, in worship, I saw His face. He looked sad to me. It was then that I understood in a new way why He had cried while riding that donkey into town. Luke tells us in chapter 19 that directly after this seen of "Hosanna", Jesus wept over Jerusalem. This man, my Savior, wept. Even now as I write this I can hardly keep the emotion back with the thought of my Jesus weeping. Last night I think I was allowed a small peek into his heart. I think I know a bit more why he wept that day.

When they cried out "Hosanna", they didn't follow up that worship-cry with a heart of "Come have your way among us!" Instead, they had their own way and their own plans for Jesus. The worshipped him, yes, but they did it with their own hopes, dreams and agendas for him. They didn't say "Hosanna" with a heart surrendered to His way.

He knew their hearts. He knew what accompanied their worship. He wept for them and for the city. If only you knew... His face said with sadness. If only you would allow me MY way with you... His heart cried out. "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace-but now it is hidden from your eyes." (Luke 19:42). And so He wept.

How often are my cries of worship and song accompanied with my own agenda, my own hopes, and my own dreams? How often do I truly, with a surrendered heart, say to my Lord... Come have your way among us! Your way, Jesus.

This morning as I processed last night's sweet worship experience, I stumbled over a common scripture that pierced my heart: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)

Oh, Lord Jesus, ... I don't trust you with all my heart. Teach me to trust You more. I so often lean on my own understanding... Forgive me, Lord. Lord, help me to welcome you into my life, my plans, my future, my family. Help me to welcome you into my day, today! Lord I say to you today, "Hosanna! Come have Your way in me, Lord Jesus!". Have your way.