The Power of the Blood

Easter is such a beautiful time. It is not just a time when families get together and eat jelly beans and candy, but it is a time that families come together and celebrate the greatest sacrifice that has ever been made. I never want to become contempt with the sacrifice that was made on my behalf.

Every walk with God starts with someone telling someone else about the love that Jesus has for us. As soon as God sent His one and only son to this earth, a paradise was placed up this earth. The coolest thing about that paradise place is that is it is always and forever with you no matter where you go. Our Father already knows what we need before we even speak it and we know that to be true because it says exactly that in Matthew 6:8. There is nothing we can hide from Him. He knows our needs, our wants, our hearts, and every thought in our head. Because He already knows we should not withhold anything, but instead bring to light the things that hurt us. Not just the words that hurt us, but also the actions and feelings. Every sunrise and sunset is another page waiting to be turned. Every day can be better than the last. We are never stuck where we are because the love that has been gifted to us has NO LIMITS. There is not a specific number of times we can be pulled back up after falling down. This love is not situational, but eternal.

We have the pleasure of being able to walk through each day knowing that there is One who is seated on the throne above all throws watching over every step we take. Each day we can hold onto the fact that He has always been there and will always be. We say an average of 20,000 words a day. I think that it would be incredible if each of those words would show the light that Jesus is in our hearts. He has given us these mouths not to speak darkness into the world but instead speak life and bring light to the darkness that is in this world. Each word that flows off of my tong should bring God the highest praises. He is the creator of the sun all things. Every flower, every bird flying around, every blade of grass. Why wouldn't we bring Him our highest praises? When you look around and see all the beauty that is surrounding you, bring His the absolute highest praises that you could, simply because you can. The amazing thing about praising is that it opens up the opportunity for all of heaven and everything on earth to join together. Which is more powerful than anything the world could bring us.

When you are not fully submerged in the love and truth of Jesus Christ, we can never feel whole. There will always be a God-shaped hole inside of us. There might be things that we can numb that hole with, but at the end of the day, it is still going to be there and you will still be longing for more. See when Jesus was walking to the place where He would die on the cross, He understood why He had to do what He was doing, but that doesn't mean He wasn't crying. Think about it, He was completely pure and clean and He was about to take on all the sin and shame and pain that all humans were carrying. When the crown of thorns was placed on Jesus' head, the thorns were soft and the skin of His head. His own decibels were doubting that this one act could take all the weight that they were carrying around on their shoulders off. But once the light came down from Heaven after He had resurrected they realized that despite their disbelief, sin, and shame they were still going to live because of the act of One Man. No matter what the world throws at us or tries to make us believe, we can't allow the chatter the distract us from the truth that Jesus Christ has resurrected all of us.

Even though we have been forgiven of all of our sin, we can't run around and not reflect the grace of God. It is easy to feel ashamed and guilty about our actions when we do something or even say something that we know isn't right. However, our God is a forgiving God and will always wait for you to come back to him. It does not matter if we run away from Him for a week, or a month, or countless years. He will always be standing there waiting for you. We will always need the help and guidance of God because He is the one that knows us better than we know our selves. He knows which move we are going to make before we even make it, He knows that we like to act stronger than we are, He knows just how breakable each of our bones is, because of this He chooses to stick around and protect us. There is not a single thing that we could say or do to deserve everything that He has gifted to us, yet He still gives it all and more to us.

There might be seasons that you go through where it feels like you are completely alone, fighting a fight that is impossible to win by yourself. But I can assure you, that there is always One person that hears every single SOS that you send out. There is nothing that your Heavenly Father wouldn't do to protect you. No matter how hard the fight in front of you might seam you will always have the strongest army backing you up. Day and night. When you are fighting a fight that seems to be never-ending, hold onto the truth that your Father has given to you. "Put on God's complete set of armor, provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! Your hand to hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:11-12) When you stand tall and know that you are heard, even when you whisper underneath your breath, you are forever unstoppable and will always be rescued.

As Jesus was hanging on the cross, He was thinking of all the sons and daughters that He was saving. I can only imagine Him saying to Himself, "*say your name here* IS WORTH THE PAIN!" There is a song called Destroy by Fearless BND. I can't even describe the impact that this song had on my heart the first time I listened to it. It brings the truth about the way we live our lives to light. But also the power that the blood of Jesus Christ had as it was shed for you and I. The voice behind it comes from a man by the name of Jeremy Johnson. The way that he delivers the words is unlike anything else I have ever heard. He speaks each word with poise and a matter of fact tone. Read what he says:

It began long ago, when darkness, through it's deceit captured the hearts of the sons and daughters of light. We looked for light but we found only darkness. We searched for bright skies but walked in gloom. We fumbled like the blind along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. We were destined to fall. Even in the brightest days, we stumbled as if it were dark. Among the living we were like the dead. We looked for justice, but it never came. We looked for rescue but it was far from us. So He, himself stepped in to save us, with his long arm and justice to sustain him. He put on righteousness as armor, salvation his helmet. He clothed himself with the robe of vengeance and wrapped himself in a cloak of divine passion. He slipped out of his royal garments, left eternity to enter time, divinity to wrap himself in humanity. The sea of glass, the ocean of separation, he left peace, and for the first time felt pain. Because the very hands that held the stars were now sentenced to wear my scars. It was love that purchased this traitors heart. It's what the prophets spoke about when they envisioned light living in men once again. For this reason, I AM LEGEND, predestined for greatness, build for the final hour. I was born for this, with weapons in hand, armor in place, I now march to the beat of a different drum. I will break through battle lines that have been drawn by discouragement and despair. Where more is left to be said, time has met its end. It's now or never. Collision with me, myself and I. You see, my mission today is clear, to wake the dead. So let freedom's song rage. Do not abandon. You're not alone. Last day warriors arise from yesterday's ash and raise your fist with us. We are the army that is charging upon the land. Defeat is no longer and option. It is victory. Now I STRONGLY STRONGLY StRoNgLy encourage you to go listen to how Johnson delivers it.

Stop and think:

If God had not sent Jesus to make the most glorious sacrifice, you would not be who you are today. The power of the blood that was sent to the cross is the only thing that will ever resurrect you with LOVE. It not only has given you a brand new life, but it has cleansed you from all of the sins that you have ever and will ever commit, it has washed you from within. There isn't any other blood that has the ability to resurrect you. You are completely and totally set free because of the act that One man made because He knew that you were worth so much more and He didn't want you to have to live with shame, condemnation, or sin. He wanted you to live a glorious life, bringing the highest praises to Him every single day with every single word you speak. He never wanted you to have to walk this Earth alone. He paid the highest price that anyone could ever pay, for you. NEVER NEVER EVER try to put limits on the love that your Heavenly Father has for you.

Prayer:

Father, I don't know where to start. Your love for us leaves me in awe every day that I walk this creation. I thank you so so so incredibly much for making the ultimate sacrifice for me. I thank you that you hear every word I speak and that you are by my side no matter how far I might try to run. I thank you for your bravery. I thank you for never giving up on me and always welcoming me back into your arms. I thank you for being the light in a dark world and protecting us from all things evil. You deserve so much praise and I will live my life to give it to all to you. I love you all day every day. Amen

Music:

Fleurie: Love Has No Limits

Amanda Lindsey Cook: Highest Praise

Sia: Jesus Wept

OneRepublic: Prodigal

Lauren Daigle: Rescue

Fearless BND: Destroy

The Power of Your Blood