The Day I Lay Down My Isaac

“And He (i.e. the LORD) said, Take now your son, your only one, Isaac, whom you love. And go into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will name to you.”

(Genesis 22:2)

I came across two beautiful Christian songs which made such a great impact on me: “The Day I Lay Down My Isaac” and “When I Lay My Isaac Down.” Very encouraging indeed!

The first one goes like this:

I have a prayer as pure as gold,
That where You lead me I will go,
And I’ll embrace the holy plea,
Each time your Spirit calls to me.
[…]
Each sacrifice You call me to,
I’ll die to self, I’ll live for You,
Take up the cross, forsake the crown,
The day I lay my Isaac down!

And the second one:

Most of us, I’d dare to say,
Have an Isaac in God’s way,
On the Altar God will prove
It’s not your Isaac that He wants
He wants you!

Lord, thank You! Thank You for Your mercy, grace, and love; your love which bears my foolishness and stubbornness. Thank You for speaking to me about this. I really want to lay my Isaac down. I want to give up each and every thing which stands in the way between You and me. I would love to lay down on the altar every single thing that I hold dear and precious. Please, kindle my heart with the desire to give You all its keys. I would rather leave everything in Your wise hands than keep anything for myself. Nothing should be kept! Help me, O Lord! Help me to let go... Help me to give you my heart and, with all willingness, lay down my Isaac. Every person, relationship, or thing. Every thought, desire or longing... Everything, Lord! Everything for You!

(From my diary, September 6, 2011)