soul

Anxiety II

/ joethewaller / Leave a comment

I cannot change biology, I know.
I cannot strip the seasons of their weight.
I fight and fret to get my mind to slow.
I will not e’er be freed this anxious state.
My life is often tension, sometimes ease.
I wrestle with my measure of control.
But God reigns over all my -ologies,
And he remains the Shepherd of my soul.
I do not want this lot, but it is mine
To steward till the Master comes again.
I may now shudder, but I also shine
With grace sufficient from the Light of men.
My mind and heart malfunction. He redeems
And leads my anxious mind by peaceful streams.

Photo by guille pozzi on Unsplash

Lean Not On Your Own Understanding

/ joethewaller / Leave a comment

eric-muhr-787761-unsplash.jpg

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 3:5-7

Have you ever tried to stop leaning on your own understanding? It isn’t like avoiding other temptations. In many situations, you can avoid giving into temptation by avoiding the object upon which your temptation fixates. When tempted to overeat, you can set limits for yourself and avoid keeping food nearby. When tempted to look at things you know you shouldn’t look at online, you can set up content filters on your devices. But how do you avoid leaning on your own understanding when you can’t avoid your mind or heart?

Continue reading →

The Crucible

/ joethewaller / Leave a comment

neonbrand-304426-unsplash

The hearts of men may not detect
Distinctions ‘twixt a noble trait
And meaner ones. They thus effect
No proper fight against the state
Of their impurity. But God
Knows well what yet resides within
The cage of bone and flesh. His rod
Gives direction and discipline
To wayward men that they may be
Saved from their state of sinfulness.
Corruption, at his word, must flee
(Proximity of holiness).
So fear not God’s refining fire,
Let go the inexcusable,
Follow the path out from the mire,
And trust the holy crucible.

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

The Word and The Heart

/ joethewaller / Leave a comment

The Word and The Heart

Your word: my great undoing, my delight.
I fear to look within, yet fear to stray,
For fear of you (sweet wisdom) shines a light
Upon my path and forces me to say
That I know not my heart or mind so well
As I assumed. This flesh doth e’er deceive.
No strength of will nor want could ever quell
Its tenor regnant. I cannot relieve
My soul from waywardness, for I am bound.
In ev’ry song I sing, I hear its sound.
Discern, speak truth, correct! Let me be found!
You see more clearly than I ever could
And cut more deeply than I wish you would.
I know that all of this is for my good.

Photo by Cathy Mü on Unsplash