Good morning, Beauties!
As some of you know, I'm going through my precious friend Julie King's devotional this month. Her ministry, Arise offers amazing times of fasting and prayer several times a year. I try not to miss one and knew God was nudging this time with the conference coming up.
This morning Julie, in her sweet and loving way, dared us to imagine we were there - this day - when Jesus was tortured and crucified. Close enough to see our Lord, barely recognizable, hanging on the Cross. She asked us to see ourselves walking up to Him - to be at His feet. My breath catches again just thinking about it.
In all honesty, my first instinct was to turn away. To not go there.
But I know I would go. I love Him so much. I would want to be as close as possible. In anguish over His suffering, His horrific death.
What would you say?
What would He tell you?
I had the most beautiful moment pouring out my heart to Him, and then I wrote out what I thought He might say to me in my journal. This is what I wrote.
Oh, My Child...
Victory is coming. Death cannot conquer Me.
All of hell will be defeated today. Death will be defeated.
My love will triumph.
Go.
Go and tell the world all that you know, all I have taught you. Tell them not to give up, not to give in to the fear or anxiety. I'm doing this so you - so they - can walk victoriously. Overcoming sin and death. Free from its grip.
You will receive My Holy Spirit, My Divine Power so that you can accomplish the plans My Father has for you. You will grow weary. You will doubt, and you will suffer.
Do not give up. Call on Me.
I love you, and I will never leave you nor will I forsake you.
It was simple compared to some of the conversations I have with God. But there was nothing simple about what He did this day. While I celebrate the resurrection and love saying, "He is Risen" to my kids, I don't ever want to skip over what this day cost our Lord. What it had to be like for our Father to be there and not intervene.
Like Julie did us this morning, even if it's just for a moment, I encourage you to sit with Him. Tell Him what you would say. Imagine what He would say. Write it out.
Jesus died a warrior, friends.
"It is finished" was His battle cry.
Why don't we live like our sin was defeated on that Cross? Like our eternal life, our eternal life was purchased and paid for.
Yes, this world is hard. He told us it would be. We will endure suffering and pain. We may bear a thorn He chooses not to remove.
But... HE gave us victory. Victory so we can walk in freedom and peace and strength.
And joy.
We are overcomers because of His death.
Let's never forget the Cross. Let's celebrate His resurrection. Let's walk in the freedom and victory it brings. Not just this weekend but every day forward.
He's telling us to "GO." Go and live as the woman HE created you to be.
Blessing this Holy weekend. XO!
