DAY 4 – THOSE WHO MOURN

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

The Hebrew word for “wait” and “mourn” are almost identical. So, this verse could be read: “What delight comes to you when you wait upon the Lord, for you will find what you long for.”

The Aramaic word for comfort, “nethbayoon” effectively translates “to see the face of the one you long for.” We think of mourning over sin or natural sorrow in life, but the scripture here goes so much deeper to the mourning/longing/waiting for the presence of the Lord.

There is supernatural mourning or godly sorrow that leads to repentance.

Peter, Isaiah, and others grieved over sin. Jeremiah wept over a nation. Jesus wept over Jerusalem. We should be saddened by the things that sadden God. Sin is no small matter. What breaks God’s heart ought to break our hearts as well.

As the soul tries to obtain closer union with God, it realizes that it must die to self in order for the Lord to increase. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

The soul is in constant battle with the self and its human (fleshly) desires. Renunciation of these worldly things requires a certain sense of training and exercise, but it is not so much the attempt at discipline that is the virtue, it is the detachment from worldly things in imitation of Christ. It is the spirit of repentance, surrender, and detachment that is vital.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the privilege of waiting on You, for You delight to shower me with Your loving presence and allow me to drink from Your unlimited streams of acceptance and joy when I come to seek Your face! I will bring you a broken and contrite spirit because these I know, You do not despise. I love You and I pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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