Because He Lives...

I’ve been trying to hard to seek out and reflect on the meaning of this past week, celebrating Jesus’ life, death and ultimately His resurrection.

Yesterday, Dr. Youseff had a great message called “From Depression to Mission” from Luke 24:13-35. The story is so profound. It had been three days since Jesus’ crucifixion. Two men are walking on the road from Jerusalem to another small village. They were totally depressed because they were truly believers and followers of Jesus and they thought for sure He would redeem Israel. Apparently, Jewish custom was that a person’s spirit hovered around for three days before it disappeared. They had even heard about the tomb being empty and the women seeing Him, but because they didn’t see Him they didn’t believe. So after three days, they gave up hope and left Jerusalem. The risen Jesus appears to them on the road, but they are so depressed over their circumstances, they don’t even recognize that it’s Jesus.

I won’t even waste your time by pondering whether I am like these men. I know I am. There are days when all I feel like all I see are pregnant mommies, happy families with babies and I am so sad that we aren’t, that I can’t even begin to see Jesus in the midst of my sorrow. I recognize that in many of my prayers I am praying for my will, my answers, my blessings – not His. I am so determined this is what I want and sure that’s what He wants for me, that I’ve failed to seek His will, His timing.

“When we learn to pray in the Holy Ghost, we find there are some things for which we cannot pray, there is sense of restraint. Never push and say, ‘I know it is God’s will and I am going to stick to it.’ Beware, remember what is recorded of the children of Israel: ‘He gave them their request; but sent wasting disease upon them.’ (Ps. 106:15) Let the Spirit of God teach you what He is driving at and learn not to grieve Him. If we are abiding in Jesus Christ we shall ask what He wants us to ask, whether we are conscious of doing so or not.” If Ye Shall Ask – Chambers

I know this is the kind of prayer life the Holy Spirit is calling me to. John 14:14 Jesus tells us “You may ask for anything in My name, and I will do it.” In My name means in His will – what He wants for me. Could it be that I need to begin to pray for ears to hear His will and eyes to see it? And sometimes I do pray, “Lord, give me ears to hear You and eyes to see You.” But what I’m really praying is, “Lord, give me ears to hear what I want You to say to me and eyes to see what I want You to show me.” Those men on the road in Luke were so determined that redemption could only be whatever they had in mind – failing to see that Jesus did come to redeem Israel – but not the way they wanted Him too. He did it His way. Jesus even says to them, like He’s saying to me now, “How foolish you are, and how slow to heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His on glory?” (Luke 24:25-26)

Throughout scripture, did God not do things His way, on His time? And were they not perfect? Same then has to be true of me. This time of waiting, God is so desperately trying to teach me how to be one with Him, to pray His will -- frankly, to desire His will over my own and rely on the Holy Spirit in my prayers.

“When we praying relying on the Holy Spirit, He will always bring us back to this point, that we are not heard because we are earnest, or because we need to be heard, or because we will perish if we are not heard; we are heard only on the ground of the Atonement of our Lord. The efficacy of the atoning work of Christ is the one thing that the Holy Spirit works into our understanding, and as He interprets the meaning of that work to us we shall never bank on our own earnestness, or on our sense of need, nor shall we ever have the idea that God does not answer, we shall be so restfully certain that He always does. The Holy Spirit will continually interpret to us that the only ground of our approach to God is ‘by the blood of Jesus’ and no other way.” If Ye Shall Ask – Chambers.

This is what the resurrection is all about. We can commune with the one true, living God because of Jesus death and resurrection. I can seek and know His will. He can grant peace in the most uncertain situations. He cans give us eyes to see Him, ears to hear Him and the ability to know more about Him. "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone; because I know He holds the future. And life is worth the living,Just because He lives!"

Praise God, we are not left to suffer alone!

"Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you. ...The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:5-6

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.' ... 'Because He loves me,' says the Lord, 'I will recuse him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble, I will deliever him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.'" Ps. 91:1, 2, 14-16