Not long ago, I woke up hearing the words, “Fasten yourself to the Lord.”
As I pondered the meaning of that statement, the weight of it began to settle over me. It was not a suggestion. It was a necessity. Fasten yourself to the Lord. He is our only stability.
To fasten is to seize and hold onto; to combine or become joined together; to unite closely in any manner and by any means. That’s how close he wants us. And the urgency of the hour requires an immediate response. We must be ready.
But you, my delightfully loved friends, constantly and progressively build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith by praying every moment in the Spirit. Fasten your hearts to the love of God and receive the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gives us eternal life. – Jude 20-21 (TPT)
The principle of readiness and preparation is vividly illustrated in the familiar parable of the ten bridesmaids who went out to wait for the imminent arrival of the bridegroom, taking their lamps with them.
But only five of them were fully prepared for the wait. They wisely filled their lamps with oil, and brought enough extra to last the night. The other five foolishly neglected to do the same. The unprepared ones begged the others to share their oil with them, but they were told there would not be enough for them as well, so they had to go off in search of more oil.
“But while they were gone, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Sir, open the door for us!’ But he called back, ‘Go away! It is too late!’
“So stay awake and be prepared, for you do not know the date or moment of my return.” – Matthew 25:1-13
In these days of global shaking and sifting, our preparation for the imminent arrival of our Bridegroom should be our top priority. Our “lamps”— our hearts – must be filled and fueled with a constant flow of the Holy Spirit. We must fasten ourselves to Jesus. From that place of protection and stability, we can abide in peace while the world around us spins and shifts wildly.
So, how do we fasten ourselves to the Lord? The first step is to realize our need to do just that. He alone is constant, unchanging, steadfast and true. We posture ourselves before Him and lean in. We seize and hold onto the truth of His Word. And as we come into agreement with it, we join ourselves to Him. We pursue His magnificent Presence with passion and diligence. And we settle into our place of constant communion with the One who loves us, shelters us, keeps and completes us. Our task is simply to remain securely fastened.
“…when I found him whom my soul loves... I held on to him and would not let him go…” – Song of Solomon 3:4
If we search ourselves, we will find deep inside a “knowing” that our only true sanctuary – our only true satisfaction – comes from the relationship we have with Jesus. He isn’t difficult to find. His hand is extended. His invitation requires a response.
“Arise, my love, my beautiful companion, and run with me to the higher place. For now is the time to arise and come away with me.” – Song of Songs 2:13
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