"Advocate"

When strength is gone,

And all that’s wrong,

Is right up in your face.

You don’t belong,

And all along,

You felt so out of place.

Outside to be,

Your view to see,

They just would not promote.

Won’t let you in,

Because you’ve been,

Too distant and remote.

Here’s what to know,

And then to grow,

So that you hear His voice.

He speaks for you,

And knows what’s true,

And gives you a clear choice.

To let Him be,

The One you see,

Who speaks in your behalf.

Your Advocate,

Is passionate,

Brings comfort with His staff.

Enough when you’re,

So insecure,

You feel so all alone,

The Lord defends,

And always sends,

His grace to us has shone.

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1, NIV)

Many of us have gone through life feeling like outsiders. We never really felt like we belonged, and that there was no one who would promote or take up for us. While riding with my cowboy friend, John Babb, in Idaho, I heard the Lord speak to me about this. As I came off the desert one day, I distinctly heard the Spirit say, “You need no other advocate but me.” It brought me such a great sense of peace and relief. This was not because I misunderstood that Jesus was my eternal Intercessor. I’ve always known and believed that. But because I had so often felt like an outsider, I needed to hear the Lord say He would speak up for me. If I knew that and believed it, I would never again be at the mercy of those who withheld their blessing from me. If He blessed me, that would b enough.

Lord, help us receive You as our Advocate, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bill Anton, used by permission. Thanks, Bill, and God bless you.