February 17, 2014

The Martyr’s Prayer

“And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
Acts 7:59, 60

Words and stones were hurled at me; they fell upon my feet;
I looked up into my Saviors’ face, waiting for our eyes to meet.
For He suffered the painful hurl of hurt and hate combined;
For they had landed on both His Hands and His Feet in time.
I asked Him, “How could you bear the pain that you received that day?
How could you bear the hate, Your people sent Your way?”
Jesus looked through eyes of tender love, and spoke these words to me,
“I came to carry you through this life, into eternity.
I could not pick up those words and hate that were hurled at me that day…
For Love to be the victor, the price I had to pay…
For an offense picked up and carried on becomes a festering thorn,
But through forgiveness, grace and love, abundant life is born.”
So now, when offense is hurled at me and it lands within my heart,
I’ll remember to cast it away, for Love has done its part.
My precious Lord, He lived for me, through the painful thorns…
So I could stand with Him; true Life and Hope reborn.
Because of His Grace, I will not take up the insult at my feet,
Because of Love, He left it there, sufficient and complete….
No festering sting of a cruel thorn will dwell within my heart…
And I will pick up forgiveness that His Love and Truth impart.
The gift of Love and sacrifice….for me He took the loss…
He took the hate and the cruel thorns…for me He chose the cross.

Heavenly Father, thank you that you have lived and died to give me freedom to live for You! May I leave the stone of offense at the foot of the cross…that I would choose forgiveness.You, my Messiah lived and died to grant to me the Hope of Abundance, in life and in death. I will choose to forgive.

In the Name of Christ Yeshua….

Amen

 

Abundant Joy,