Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
As I was preparing for work one morning, I did as I usually did, and turned the television on to catch a little spiritual uplifting for the day. There was nothing different about the day, as I began to put my clothes on. On the television screen was a couple being interviewed about a song that the wife had written as a result of being molested as a child. Nothing different about this day....just another story about the pains of life that we as believers must endure and how our great and awesome God can deliver us if we faint not. As I rushed to put on my shoes, the lady began to speak about the story of Lazarus, and how he had died during Jesus' absence.
She recalled the question that Mary and Martha asked Jesus when they found him.. "where were you? If you had been here, this wouldn't have happened!" and how Jesus' response was, "take me to the place where his body lays.... the place where he has died."
That day, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead!
She began to explain that it wasn't until she had taken Jesus to the place of her depression that he healed her and brought her back from a life of pain. I stood there, wanting to hear more as I began gathering my things... I must say, that I have asked the same question during desperate times in my life; The feeling that, had Jesus been there, he could have stopped so many of the things that hurt me...... I stood there....motion-less, wondering how many things were left for dead inside of me, because I didn't know how to deal with them. This just got personal, as
I heard them say,
"Take him to the place; and watch dead things live again,
where one touch of his grace, and it's all washed away,
He's calling out your name; it doesn't matter where you've been, or
whatever you have faced, don't be afraid,
to take him to the place"
My eyes filled with tears, as I began to think about all of the times that I refused to take him to the places of my pain in the past, fearing to face them again, and whether or not I still have truly taken Jesus to all of my places of pain? Had I summoned for him to come to the places where my deepest hurts resided? The place where certain things that once lived in me, had died? Has every part of me been revived? Or are there still areas that need a visit from the Master? ....it seemed as if they could see me standing there , "take him to the place"....I stood there!
Did I even want to take him to those secret places where I had placed things that hurt me, and threw away the key?
Did I even want to take him to those secret places where I had placed things that hurt me, and threw away the key?
God was letting me know that there were things that needed to be revived in me. Things that I still had not let go of completely. Things that I still can't talk about without the visitation of tear drops. Disappointments, failures, losses...regrets!
As I struggled to see the television screen through my tears, God began to fill me with the hope of his ability to revive dead things. He began to minister strength to me as he gave me this devotional to share with you.
As I struggled to see the television screen through my tears, God began to fill me with the hope of his ability to revive dead things. He began to minister strength to me as he gave me this devotional to share with you.
He told me to tell you that there are areas in your life where you have NOT summoned his presence. All you have to do is take him to that place where your dreams have died; take him to the place where you lost your hope; where your spiritual eyes fell dim....summons him to the place where you started to doubt him....the place where your prayers became faith-less! He's calling out your name, it doesn't matter where you've been, ..or, WHATEVER you have faced, don't be afraid to take him to the place...
the place where your mouth stopped blessing him, and your feet stopped dancing! Take him to the place where the devil silenced your new song and where 99 1/2 became just fine with you! .....lead him to the place where you hung up your garment of praise...to the place where the whole armor of your faith, sustained damaged during battle, to the place where your strength began to bow out gracefully to defeat....take him to that where healing seems impossible!....and you too, will find out how Jesus' miraculous power is still bringing dead things back to life again!
Read the story of Lazarus
John 11: 1-46
the place where your mouth stopped blessing him, and your feet stopped dancing! Take him to the place where the devil silenced your new song and where 99 1/2 became just fine with you! .....lead him to the place where you hung up your garment of praise...to the place where the whole armor of your faith, sustained damaged during battle, to the place where your strength began to bow out gracefully to defeat....take him to that where healing seems impossible!....and you too, will find out how Jesus' miraculous power is still bringing dead things back to life again!
Read the story of Lazarus
John 11: 1-46
See this powerful video and song below:
