This is the Truth of Easter:  “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” 2 Cor 5:14-15

What can I do to live for Him today?  Lay down my own Will.  My Will has lied to me for as long as I can remember.  I believed it too.  I thought that if I did not protect and nurture my poor, vulnerable Will, it would be injured, maybe die.  And if it died…my Will…then I, the “I” that says who I am, would die alongside it.  My Will convinced me that it was me.  My Will has a strong streak of self-preservation.  It rises up now, powerful, stubborn.  It perseveres under dire circumstances.  My Will resists all others, including its own Maker.  It rebels.  It does not follow, it leads.  It does not want to hear, but to speak.  It opposes submission.  It despises weakness.  My Will leads me off of the path of righteousness, following my own path, my own voice, the desire of my own heart, elevated above all else.  My Will…once my champion, now my enemy: For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things (Phil 3:18-19).

How do I…with such a relentless need to lead, follow?  How can I, who am in the constant state of composing my next thought, stop…and empty my mind to receive?  How do I set aside my agenda to prepare my heart to obey?  Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23).

Deny myself?  Refuse to give in to the old Will.  Determine to starve it, rather than feed it.  It dies a slow death, constantly looking for a way back in, trying to get a foot in the door.  Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it” (Gen 4:6-7).

An undisciplined heart is unbecoming, unsightly.  Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:3-4).  The Lord Himself was a dichotomy.  Jesus, whose name was full of Power (that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, Phil 2:9-11).  Jesus, who was also meek and mild.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Matt 11:29).  Me, yoked?  Yoked: walking so closely, step for step, in unison.  Yoked: a student following so closely to her Master, stepping into the footprints.  Me, learning meekness.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS (Matt 11:29).  Rest.  Who would not seek it?  Peace and comfort, who can afford to turn them down?  Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience‘¦There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience (Heb 4:6,9-11). Me, learning to enter His rest.  Me, so stiff-necked…so stuck sometimes, yet He never wavers.  He is sure of my progress.  He who began a good work in [me] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6).

His constant attention, His unparalleled devotion, His loving presence makes it so that I can and will obey.  I can choose rightly‘¦ Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:7-8).  Sometimes we draw near enough to feel the Breath of God‘¦

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until my will is one with Thine,
To do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Gal 2:20

The miracle of Easter is found in the empty tomb.  But the miracle of Easter is also what happens after the resurrection of Christ.  Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. (Rom 6:4).

justAgirl…just like you!