Take Hold of Jesus by (tigerbrooks.com)

“There is no one who calls on Your name, who arouses himself to take hold of You…”

Isaiah 64:7 NASB

May this not continue to be said of us!

When I come across things like this during quiet times, you need to know that I share it with you because it first worked on me. I only share things that move me. Things that educate me or teach me something about myself, God or our relationship, these are the things I take the time to share.   If it makes me smile, laugh, think, and/or change, then I may deem it worthy of sharing with a friend whom I would hope would benefit just as I have.

This verse hits me squarely in the face.  Why? Being completely transparent, even though I have dedicated my life to the ministry of the Gospel through a variety of means, there are still those days. Those days when I arouse myself (or stir myself up) to take hold of my smart phone, my iPad, my computer or my TV remote more often than I seek to take hold of Him. What is it for you? Perhaps it’s easier for you to take hold of a bottle, a cigarette, a crack pipe, a needle or some other thing you wish you weren’t holding on to, but you are.

The arousal part is not so difficult. We can get charged up about anything. For many folks, the entirety of their religious experience revolves around the next emotional roller coaster ride. It’s all energy and effort, but that’s an end in itself. In other words, your effort to arouse yourself leads nowhere. Isaiah reminds us that our destination should be the LORD. Our stirring and striving should lead us to take hold of Him.

We are also reminded that our taking hold of Him requires some effort on our part. We must arouse or stir up ourselves. Picture a fire in your fireplace. Not the kind of fire you turned a knob or flipped a switch to kindle. An old fashion, wood fire! As it burns down and down, you have to get some sort of instrument and reach in and…stoke the fire. You have to stir it up. Flip a log or two. Throw another log on. The same is true with our spiritual life. The Lord is ALWAYS near, however, we must discipline ourselves to place ourselves in the right attitude so that He can consume us (Hebrews 12:29).

Don’t be consumed by other things and miss out on the One of whom we so desperately need to take hold.