Come awake...

While it is typically a song played a great deal around Easter...Matt Maher's "Christ Has Risen" stirred my soul deeply yesterday.

This week has been a week of complete surrender to Jesus.  Complete surrender to His will.  Releasing anything that isn't from Him.   I have been in the Word much deeper than ever and have realized that all the times that I have been filled with sorrow, fear, anger or confusion...He was for me.  He allowed it...for me. The Lord reminded me yesterday, just how much He was for me.  I was driving home from a doctors appointment with the Doo yesterday and this song came on the radio, along with it came a whole new perspective for me.

I was instantly taken away from everything that was troubling me with the lyrics come awake...the glory of God has defeated the night.  In James 4:4 the Bible says, ".....you are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."  In the most humbling way, the Lord reminded me that HE is the purpose and reason for my existence...and He is all that I need.  It's as if He screamed "Wake up, child!" "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that YOU may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10  There is no joy without His death and resurrection.  If we do not realize daily what He did for us on the cross...we'll search for that inner joy and never find it. It's not our circumstances, hopes or dreams that give us joy...it's the realization of what He did on the cross for us.  If we lose sight of that in our sorrow or fear...we're missing the point of why we are here in the first place. "But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you." 1 Samuel 12:24

Christ and His glory come when we are intensely satisfied with who He is.  When we'll choose to suffer for loves sake.  He shines brightest when we die to ourselves. God knew that suffering would be a part of this journey, yet our service to Him throughout the pain is what makes His glory most visible. That's why He allows it. God loves us so much.  Loving Jesus doesn't mean the path will be easy.  He longs for us to enjoy making His name great forever--no matter what price we pay. For He paid the ultimate price for us.

Please know that I am so far from being at the point that I choose pain.  This journey of life--I learn something every single day.  I will say that the reminder yesterday of how much He paid was all that I needed to move forward and to choose joy with a thankful heart for His perfect love for me.  Take a listen when you have a chance...may you come awake!