As I prepare my heart for LORD’s Supper, I am so touched by a few simple thoughts from Amy Carmichael in Edges of His Ways:

“Perhaps in a time when you are alone with your LORD there may come that uplifting which is life and peace.  It will come by looking away from self to the LORD of Light and Joy.  ‘They looked to Him and were radiant.’ (Psalm 34:5)”

Maybe some of us enter this LORD’s Day with a heavy heart, a downcast spirit.  We genuinely want to fix our gaze on the LORD JESUS with worship and adoration, but we feel distracted by our burdens.

At the LORD’s table, we are called to honor Him and center our thoughts on Him. But, could He also have intended to bestow on us a gift in return?

Even if we don’t feel we are where we’d like to be in heart or mind or spirit – maybe especially when that is so – may we simply and gently encourage one another to come anyway?  Just come.  Choose to draw near.  Choose to honor Christ.  Even in the simplest, feeblest effort to just be present.  Just come.

I believe He will honor that choice.  I believe He will touch our hearts, melt the pressing concerns (even if only for an hour), give us fresh reassurance that only comes from Him.  He will lift the chins we can’t bring ourselves to raise.  He will gather the thoughts that seem to run in every direction and nowhere all at the same time.  His Spirit will draw our focus from self to the beauties of the One we adore. 

I believe we will leave His table different than when we sat down.  It is absolutely possible that we can enter heavy and burdened… and leave positively radiant!  Others will know that we have been with the LORD JESUS.  We will step into a new week living in the goodness of His love for us!

Yes, dear friend, come anyway.  Just come to His table and meet with Him there.  As Amy Carmichael says, “There may come an uplifting which is life and peace.”

O come let us adore Him!

Encouraged by Amy Carmichael’s words, I can’t help but think of the hymn below.  I pray these lyrics will touch and encourage your heart as well.

Turn your eyes upon JESUS by Helen Lemmel

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O soul are you weary and troubled

No light in the darkness you see

There’s light for a look at the Savior

And life more abundant and free

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Through death into life everlasting

He passed, and we follow Him there

Over us sin no more has dominion

For more than conquerors we are

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His word will not fail you, He promised

Believe Him and all will be well

Then go to a world that is dying

His perfect salvation to tell

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Turn your eyes upon JESUS

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace