Thank you for the cross
“I will exalt you, Lord , for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. You, Lord , brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit. Sing the praises of the Lord , you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” Lord , when you favored me, you made my royal mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. To you, Lord , I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? Hear, Lord , and be merciful to me; Lord , be my help.” You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.”
Recently, I have been reflecting on the Cross and where I was before I truly met Christ. The Lord has allowed me to remember who I was so that I can glorify Him for who I have become.
It’s important not to sit in your past and give the enemy a foothold in your mind. He will use this time of reflection to make you fall into shame, guilt, or condemnation. God calls us to remembrance in order to bring us into a place of gratitude.
I was in a dark place a few years ago. Jesus saved my life. I would not be alive right now if it were not for the saving grace of Jesus.
He was my Savior back then but not my Lord. I would call Him to rescue me and He would be so gracious to save me from myself. However, I would go back to the same thing all over again. Time and time again, I went deeper into my sin and couldn't find my way out of it. I knew He was close, waiting for me to come back to Him but I was ashamed of who I had become. So I ran away from Him and thought I deserved what was happening.
I felt a deep sense of unworthiness, self-hatred, and didn't want to live. I thought my life had lost its purpose and I felt like I was drowning in the depths of my despair. I was depressed, suicidal, anxious, addicted, and tormented by demonic oppression.
I know this is a lot to take in but you need to know the truth about my past in order to understand the FREEDOM I have found in Jesus Christ, my everything. When I say that He saved my life, He really did.
God was so faithful. He never left me even when I left Him. He was always near. He never let go of my hand. He was there through it all. Every difficult moment in my life. He collected every tear. He redirected me when I went the wrong way. He pursued me in the nightclubs, bars, and other places that were filled with darkness.
He never stopped coming after me because His love for me was unconditional and binding. He made a marriage covenant with me that could never be broken. So He continued to come after me like only God could.
Today, I am almost 5 years sober, zealous for God, free from depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, unworthiness, and other forms of oppression. I AM REDEEMED! Reclaimed as a child of God!
This letter is fruit of my salvation. He has given me this ministry to help others heal through art and storytelling like the gift He gave me. I cannot keep this gift to myself. It was meant to be shared with His daughters. So I give you everything I have. It is yours. He is yours. Take a hold of His hand! Don't runaway from Jesus. He loves you too much to let you stay where you are. If He did it for me. He will do it for you.
Now I think of the Cross. It was because of what Jesus did on the Cross that I am alive. He didn’t just save me physically but spiritually. I am alive in Christ. I am a new creation. I have been forgiven, redeemed, restored, renewed, and bought by the precious blood of Jesus. It’s only because of the blood. Nothing else.
So if you don't know Him, or need to re-dedicate yourself like to Him, I encourage you to run as fast as you can to His arms. You are safe there and He is waiting for you to come so that He can wrap His arms around you in LOVE.