Soaking it in

I have been soaking in the message of the Cross lately. I have always known that it was a big part of the Christian faith, but I never really, hard as I tried, could grasp the meaning and importance of it. Of course, I know that Jesus died on it, defeating sin and everything wrong in the world, and then rose, defeating death itself. That is a huge deal, but how could I apply this to my life; besides knowing that I am forgiven and have been given new life?

I overlooked one of the most beautiful parts of that last sentence:

New Life.

We have been given a new life. A life where no sin, no evil, no fear, no trouble.. nothing can tear us down. Hard to grasp? Hell yeah! (pardon the expression). We have been given "a peace that transcends all understanding.."-Philippians 4:7. We don't have to know the answers. We don't even have to know the questions. We are perfected by faith. I am constantly trying to find answers to my own questions. And when it comes to life, I just can't find them. But isn't that the beauty of faith? We have the power to be joyful always!

I have another one for you. I have been learning about maybe the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Surrender.

When I truly close my mind and open my heart, there is a flood of hope and joy that consumes me. What do I have to worry about? He tells us to, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."-Matthew 6:28-29. It is amazing what happens when we give up, when we surrender all of our efforts to Him. This morning I heard a line from a worship song that really struck me.

It said something like, "I never knew surrender could feel so free."

Well, amen to that.