Be Jesus

Because some days we simply must remind ourselves who we are. Some days we must stop waiting for the world to lift us up out of the mire and encourage ourselves. David did it! “David strengthened himself...” 1 Sam 30:6. Because encouragement comes from within and strengthening power comes from the Holy Spirit that resides in every believer.

And when I read it this morning I was reminded that He who holds the sun and moon, knows too, the heavy weight of all that I face in the flesh: temptation, slander, fear, sorrow, pain, abandonment, heartbreak, loss, weariness. And yet the Word tells us, “While Jesus was here on earth, He offered prayers & pleadings with a loud cry & tears, to the One who could rescue Him from death. And God heard His prayers because of His deep reverence for God.” (Heb 5:7) 

Gathesemene.

And I remember.

He knows all this too.

And even operating with a broken heart, He behaves as One who without sin sympathizes with our suffering... and comforts us in our despair. One who knows poverty and and forsakenness and graciously invites us into participation with discomfort so to draw us into a deep association with the Divine. Because He knows that the results of companionship reveal Christlikeness.

And is that not the desired outcome?

To be as Christ here on the earth?

Because, “...greater works than these shall you do, because I go unto My Father.”

My feelings of inadequacy don’t change the assignment.

To do greater works.
To say what He is saying.
To do what He is doing.
To change atmospheres for Christ.
To bear His image.
To administer hope.
To heal sickness.
To destroy gates of hell.

And so with chin up I say it again: Yes.

Yes to whatever You have, God.
Yes to the suffering that makes me more like You.
Yes to the assignment You’ve given.
Yes to the work still left to do.

Because failure is not an option. And the joy of oneness and victory is worth it all!