Run to Him

by Amy Pasinski

March 16, 2013, during worship Sunday morning.  Pastor Aimee began to sing,
   
"I am running after, running after, running after You.  I am running to You, running to You,
     running to You."

This is the picture of what God showed me by His Spirit. 

There appeared a great multitude of people.  They were all different ages and races.  Each person was carrying a huge pack on their backs.  These were some serious backpacks.  Imagine the kind of pack you would take into the woods camping, or something someone in the military would carry.  They were large and filled completely.  The packs were so big that the posture of each person was hunched over.  The weight of the packs would not allow them to stand up straight.  I saw Jesus far, far, off in the distance.  I saw the radiating light of His glory.  His eyes shown bright.  At that moment the people began to see Him.  They caught a glimpse of His eyes.  The people began to walk toward Him.  They tried to move faster and slowly tried to jog His way.  What they carried on their backs was limiting their ability to quickly get to Him.  All of a sudden their desire to get to Him outweighed the need to carry the pack.  They finally decided, and simultaneously realized, they didn't need to carry them anymore!  Together the people started to rip the packs off of their backs so they could sprint to Him.  They realized they just needed to get to Him.

Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
    "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

God wants to take off the pack you are carrying and give you rest.  When we fix our eyes on Him and allow Him to carry the burden for us, we will find rest.  The pack may remain full, full of worry, sickness, fear, hurt, brokenness, shame, hopelessness, etc.  If we can make a purposed decision to take off the pack and place it at His feet, He will give us rest!  When we fix our eyes on God and run to Him, we give Him permission to carry our burden.  We are not meant to carry it.  He paid the price so we wouldn't have to.  As we seek Him and find Him, we discover that He has lightened our packs.  God takes the burden and He fills us up with Peace.  Rest.  Joy.  Love.  Purpose.  Wisdom.  Hope.  New Vision.  New Dreams. 
Can we make a decision today to remove the pack that we carry, place it at His feet, and run to Jesus?  He wants to fill you with hope.

Psalm 55:22 NKJ
    "Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.