Burden Bearer

John and Paula Sandford

Mal — Thu, 12 May 2011 11:45:25 +0000

The first time I came across the concept of burden bearing was through the teaching of John and Paula Sandford, who founded Elijah House in 1975 with the mandate to restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers (Malachi 4:5-6), by equipping the saints with biblical tools founded upon universal laws in the Word of God, to enable discernment of root issues and allow true healing.

The Sandfords have published many books, many of which have recently been updated and republished. Among those of value in our study of burden bearing that are currently available is Letting Go Of Your Past.

In Chapter 8: He’s Not Heavy – He’s My Brother they discuss how burden bearing is one of the primary ways to heal wounded spirits, and also how burden bearers themselves may be wounded by spiritual leeches. A leech is a person who is the opposite of a burden bearer. They sustain themselves by drawing on the strength of others, instead of sustaining their life through prayer, emotional hygene and personal discipline.

The Sandfords explain the nature of burden bearing and cross bearing, how to do it in a Godly fashion, the pitfalls that wait for a burden bearer, and how to avoid them.

The introvert

Mal — Thu, 12 May 2011 09:08:29 +0000

One of the characteristics typical of burden bearers is their introverted personality. This should come as no surprise, given that by nature a burden bearer must be sensitive to other people’s feelings, perceptive in ways others may not be, and willing to go deep when others are content to play in the shallows.

Over at Intimacy with God Blog I’ve posted an article about The Believing Introvert. You might like to pop over and have a read.

Welcome to Burden Bearer

Mal — Wed, 26 May 2010 10:21:41 +0000

Welcome to Burden Bearer. In this blog we will explore all that it means to be a burden bearer – where this gift comes from, the difficulties an unredeemed burden bearing nature presents, its God given purpose, burden bearing’s relationship to intercession, and how to live and function effectively as a burden bearer.