He Is Risen

Acts 13:22 He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

As I post this blog the day before Easter morning, I reflect on the love of the Lord, the heart of David, and the condition of my own heart toward God, praying to the Holy Spirit to create in my heart to do all His will.

While my physical birthday is October 24^th, my spiritual birthday is March 4, 2007. That is the day I was baptized and declared publicly my belief, love, and acceptance of my state of grace through the sacrifice of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A favorite verse and a favorite song come to mind today. The verse is from Matthew. The song is a worship song from Chris Rice. They intertwine in my thoughts because they both remind me when I call on Jesus how easy it is to stay loving and merciful and faithful. 

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT) Jesus asked us simply to remember and act upon two commandments- Love the Lord over everything else and love our neighbor.

Chris Rice wrote a song titled, “Unnamed Hymn (©2003, Chris Rice).”  In it he writes,

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus and live!

Last Sunday, our Youth Pastor preached about the righteousness and humility of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey. It left me in awe of a God who chose to abide in his own humility instead of displaying his power. His ministry turned the world upside down. He honored the shamed, and shamed those with status.

It also left me wondering how many times I have prayed for my own plans to be fulfilled, rather than praying for God to execute his plans through me. I know I have prayed both kinds of prayers, yet the first kind has me in the driver’s seat, has me as the focus, has me pushing my own agenda to the forefront.

The second kind of prayer has God’s strength sourcing the words, has Jesus’ own words of love uplifting them, has the Holy Spirit’s gifts and wisdom behind them. As I recall the prophet Zechariah describing the character of our King – his righteousness and humility – I pray that I will remember to keep my prayers to the second kind. I pray that God’s will be planted in my heart, that His desires become my own, that I become conscious of my perfectly fitted yoke to Jesus, and that I drink from the living water of the Holy Spirit to build His kingdom, not mine.

When I pray for God to search my heart, to help me with my doubt, to bring me patience, to give me wisdom, to speak through me, He does. He shows His expansive and unconditional love whenever I ask. I have experienced fulfilled promises and a supernatural ability to wait on His timing for me. 

He lifts me up, He calms my fears, He stays my focus. He strengthens my heart.  He lived to teach us, to bring us to the Father, to beseech us to repent, to open His arms and welcome us. He overcame death and rose again, forever renewing us in Him.

I, along with the sun, the stars and the moon, with the wind and the birds, lift my voice to praise Him and proclaim His name, and say, “He is Holy; His name will reign forever.”