“Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs.”
― Jonathan Edwards
I love this prayer by Jonathan Edwards. The prayer reminds me that it is not the present things or the present circumstances, whether they are great or small, amazing or terrible, but rather the constant reminder of eternity with Jesus that our main focus should be. Most often, especially when we are sad and down cast, we feel the burden of the world on our selves and fail to see the master who carried the cross and said "my yoke is easy, my burden is light" Matthew 11:28-30.
One writer tell more about this yoke being easy. When talking about marriage, Paul says do not be unequally yoked. It means that do not marry someone who chases the world and its desires if you chase the Lord. Your way splits and then the yoke is hard and burdensome. In the olden days before tractors, oxen would be put under the same yoke to plough the field. This means, if one is strong and the other is weak, the stronger one leads the plough. But most often than not, the work does not get done as the stronger one drags the weaker.
When Jesus says this, he says " Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls". He is gentle. He is strong. His will is to make our yoke easy. Whether it is church, marriage, finance, job, he is there saying that He will carry the heavy part.
This is our prayer then, that we constantly focus on Jesus and see him carrying and allow him to carry the heavy part. He does not need your help. He does and have did it willingly and without asking your opinion. This is his will for our life - that he calls and says " “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Come, and he will give us rest.
At times of joy and triumph, let us remember too that we did nothing but walk under his yoke. This is why we have to pray too, Lord, stamp eternity, the promise f the fellowship, sight, smell, warmth and companionship of you in fullness be stamped on our eyeballs.
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