At the Cross

As you know, I love to listen to music and the Holy Spirit ministers to me through song in such powerful ways. It is often that I am driving down the road and I hear a song on the radio that makes me think of all of you. The other day my girls were singing their hearts out to this tune driving back from a late evening ice cream run, and I knew that this would be the focus of my next devotion. You see sometimes it is a line or just one word that speaks to me, and I am inspired to share with you about the amazing love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In this song, the worship leader sings about the most promising place I have ever known-The Cross. He says, "At the cross, I surrender my life, I'm in awe of you. Where your love ran red and my sins washed white. I owe it all to you. Here my hope is found, here on Holy Ground, here I bow down." 

The lines are so meaningful in my life today. The one word that particularly stood out to me was the word "Surrender." Have you ever had a time in your life when you just wanted to surrender it all to God and give Him complete control of a situation or situations? Or even more so, have you had a time in your life when you SHOULD have surrendered it all to Him, but you were not able to hand it over? I find myself in that struggle often and then I am reminded that God's word calls us to humble ourselves before the Lord and that when we do He rejoices! James 4:10 says "Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you." Sometimes we are so caught up in what man wants or thinks or with earthly ideals that we are scared to surrender it all. I know that I fear failure and sometimes surrendering can feel as if I have failed myself or those around me.

But God is faithful in reminding me that surrendering to Him is a sign of strength and reflects the faith I have in Him and in His promises. It can be so hard, but I thank Him daily for his mercy and continued presence in my life. I know that because of the cross where His blood ran red, I am loved, cherished, and forgiven. Those promises alone help me to surrender when it is sometimes hard.

 I Peter 5: 6-10 reminds us "Be humble in the presence of God’s mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes. 7 God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.

8 Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack. 9 But you must resist the devil and stay strong in your faith. You know that all over the world the Lord’s followers are suffering just as you are. 10 But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That’s why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm.

Somedays, I know that lion roars LOUDLY. It's then that I stop, quiet myself, and surrender. 

Because His mercy reigns. Thank you Jesus! I love you Lord!