Resurrection

I feel like I've always known God.  From the time I was a small child, going to St. Rita's Elementary School in Astoria, NY,  I've been introduced to Him and taught about Him, prayed to Him and desired to please Him.  I don't feel there was a time in my life I was not His child....yet there were many times, many years in my life I didn't walk with Him.  I went my own way, did my own thing, lived to please my flesh, and have a good time (whether it actually was a "good time" is highly debatable!). And then I got committed.  His life, His Spirit renewed mine and off I went on this journey of living for Christ.  I was made alive in Christ.  Or remade, as it were.

Philippians 3:10  I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead.  I want to suffer with Him, sharing His death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!  

Hmmmm.  EXPERIENCE this power.  How do I do that?  This is what popped off the page as I read this passage a few days ago.  I can EXPERIENCE the power of Christ's resurrection.  But how? Where?  As of right now in the United States, I am not asked to physically die for Christ. I don't suffer persecution or mistreatment for His name's sake.  So how do I suffer for Him?  Do I miss out on the blessing of knowing this power, of experiencing this resurrection from the dead because I live in a "free" society?  And then God opened up the Scripture to me.  The light bulb went on in my heart and mind.  It was and is a spiritual suffering I am called to now.  I know, many of you may already know this, and perhaps on some level I did too, but it came to me anew in this last reading and I am so excited about this!.

Whether it's dying to pride (a big, big, big one for me) at work....my rights, my fairness, my, my, my, me, me, me or dying to overeating or overspending....I want more, more, more....whether it's giving of my time to do for another....laying down my needs, my cares, my wants....it all hurts my fleshly thinking, takes me out of my comfort zone and self focused, self fulfilling, self protecting box and brings me to the Cross.  But as I suffer through the laying down of self centered living, I am renewed and resurrection and made alive in Christ.  I share in His suffering and experience the power of His resurrection.  How awesome is that!  And my life is transformed, bringing more glory to Him.  The layers and layers of self are peeled away, left behind in the tomb like the grave clothes Christ wore. The more layers that are shed, the brighter His life in me shines.  I'm really loving this!!

Again, God takes the time to make His will known to me, to us.  To share His heart and remind us of the direction we are to be heading.  Last night I read something in a devotional about taking small breaks to check in with the Holy Spirit as one goes through their day.  And what a great way to see where we are in the "dying to self" thing.  Small visits with the Lord to check our direction, our reactions and get empowered to share the light of Jesus.

Lord, thank You for Your constant renewing of my mind.  I am so grateful, as always that You are the greatest teacher, the most patient of Fathers and the uttermost Savior.  Send me and all of us forward today, living for You, listening for Your voice and experiencing this resurrection power as we strive to live for You.  Holy Spirit make Yourself known to us throughout the day, each and every moment, lead us and empower us to be salt and light in a tasteless and dark world.  Thank You.

Take Spirit breaks today!!