I Die Daily

Read the following words and let each sink in a few seconds before moving to the next...

Sacrifice 

Slave

Submission

Deny 

Suffering

Powerless

Surrender 

Death 

                     Feeling encouraged? Hopeful? Safe? Free? I would think not and neither would I in the past. These words are used often in different context but each of them seem to have negative connotations. They sounds heavy, dark, and to be avoided. I have in the past felt that these words were very dark and life sucking. I've even titled some post with them, such as surrender. We often want a life of hope and freedom but we do not want to change our ways. We don't want to sacrifice, submit, or surrender. It all seems to be too much to give up. Too hard to let go of our thoughts, behaviors, and things. To scary to let go of things that have filled our lives, comfort us, and made us feel safe. (Even when these things are detrimental) We are all holding onto the monkey bars stuck in the same place (and eventually falling) because we are just too terrified to reach for something new. The word surrender is especially difficult for me. I have spent such a long time knowing what I need to let go of, telling myself what needs to be done, and yet never finding the courage to do it. I am stuck between a place of bondage and a place of freedom. 

                     "I want to be a slave," definitely not a statement spoken often. To be a slave infers that one has been striped of their control, rights, and power. As humans, we tend to all be a bunch of control freaks. The idea of having no control over something that pertains to our lives can quickly light a fire within us. We don't want anyone to have authority over our lives or our decisions. 

                       Death... Many thoughts arise with the word death. For some it brings up the hurt of losing a loved one. For some it causes anxieties to spark and fear to arise.For some it arouses anger. For some it brings up many questions. For some it has become a way to stop life's pain, check out, and give up completely... For these people it may be an option kept open for when they are hopeless and can't go on anymore

                                  Feeling encouraged yet? Probably not, hold on it's coming. 

       

                         This morning I was having my walk with worship music and God. God put all of this on my heart and I had to share it. These words I have spoken of are ,by themselves, dark and undesirable. BUT through Jesus these words take on a whole new meaning. Jesus is greater and more powerful than even the darkest of dark! Through Jesus the words take on new meanings. Jesus loves us, knows our pain and our joy, and wants to know us! Jesus never ever intends to hurt us. These negative words are no longer negative in his name because they serve as a gateway to a life with him! 

                                                               

                                                               Through Jesus alone...

                   

   Sacrifice.. becomes desire 

Slave... becomes honor

Submission....becomes safety 

Deny....accept

Suffering...becomes joy

Powerless...becomes empowered

Surrender...becomes freedom

Death... becomes LIFE

                         In order to truly follow Christ we must let go of old meanings and thoughts associated with these words, overcome them, and define them as they are transformed though the Holy Spirit. All voids can be filled with the Holy Spirit if we just trust. There is power and freedom in the name Jesus. For me dying daily will no longer mean I am barely hanging on and being chained down by pain, depression, and fear. From now on I will die daily by choosing Jesus over any temptation, fear, pain, depression, false idols, false comforts, addiction, or the lies in my head. I will not choose to die out of depression, pain, and fear but I will die a death of my old self and embrace who I am through JESUS CHRIST. I will die to live with him. Only through the death of the darkness in my life can a new light and freedom arise.  

             Please pray for me as I begin to die daily. 

1 Corinthians 15:31

Christ love, 

Laura Katherine