LEAN IN and LEAN ON and Bill Withers

Such simple words...have you thought about them lately (maybe not Bill Withers)?

Don’t you just love it when you are in a crowded place and your sweetheart or friend leans over to you to hear what you are saying? So much better than having that person lean back with arms crossed as though it will be nice when you are through.

LEAN IN implies expectation.

If you want to hear a special whisper from a little child, you lean in.

If you want to see a fine painting in detail, you lean in.

If you want to smell a fragrant rose from someone special, you lean in.

If you want to show interest in a person, you lean in towards that person.

AND...If we want to draw close to our Heavenly Father, we lean in.

Every morning lean your arms awhile upon the windowsill of Heaven and gaze upon the Lord. Then, with that vision in your heart, turn strong to meet the day.

Isaiah 41:13: “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” How can you hold a person’s hand without “leaning in”?

We also need to” lean in” to the Lord for someone else. We could spend lots of time on this but let’s just read one Scripture. Job 1:5:

“When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them (his ten children) to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, ‘Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ This was Job’s regular custom.”

Job knew what it meant to daily pray for his children. Lean in - wrestle with God for your children, your family, yourself... Do not settle into an expectation that God isn’t going to do anything. Micah 7:7 says “My God WILL hear me.” So don’t give up.

In my prayer journal, I was so excited to put “ANS” beside a request that has been in there for over 20 years!! PTL...the answer I put was “yes.” Sometimes I have to say “no.” But LEAN IN to your Father for answers to those hard questions and decisions.

Then make sure you LEAN ON the Lord. The verse that got me through college was

 I Peter 5:7: “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.”  Oh, to lean on His loving heart and know He cares!

Deuteronomy 31:6:  ^“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Last thought about LEAN IN and LEAN ON from Bill Withers...one of my favorite all time pop songs (Does it fit...I think so J):

“Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on”

We need the Lord and we need each other. LEAN IN to that friend and listen. Then lead them to LEAN ON the Lord...perhaps by LEANING ON your friendship.

 --Maylou Holladay