Last

~ Revelation this morning..

When key ppl in your life always put you last.. know that God says he will put you first. Your love and perseverance tho walked upon in this life, will be rewarded by God... and you will know the truth of that song that says that it will be worth it, when all is said and done. Be strong and full of courage, you are not as alone as it feels. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Truly brings this passage out and ties it to this life..

"I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning."
(Psalm 30)


~ Sometimes that sin that comes in the night is not your own.. sometimes it belongs to someone that you love or that God has placed in your life.. but you are required to bear it, tied to it in this life, having to breathe it daily, to lie in it tho it repulses you.. all the while, holding on to Christ, and trusting him to pull you out as one.

So often we see "dying daily" as how holy I can be.. how much Scripture can I quote, how eccentric can I make my diet by what I eat or don't eat.. how much can I scrape from my appearance or weight it down with ritual so ppl will identify me as holy and religious and humble... how much we can deny our flesh outwardly..

but when we look at the example that Jesus set of dying daily, we can see that it is such a deeper work, it is more about the dying of our spirit man.. inwardly... It is a work that puts others in the spotlight rather than ourselves, it is dying to our wants (and often needs) so that they might live in Christ.. receiving no affirmation in the process, rather, a pillow put over your face, quietly smothering the life out of you with no notice... daily.. could you do it.. could you die like that.. every day?...

Willing to be last despite the pain and loneliness of never having them love you back.. being that thing that elevates others to keep their head above water in hopes that they might live.. as you die to your wants (needs)... That is the example Christ set.. that is the dying daily he did when he was on this earth and that he continues in day and night as he works salvation into the fabric of so many lives...

Yes, he had rights and power to call down a legion of angels at the darkest, most difficult moments.. but he chose to die so that those he loved might live. Can you do it?... lay down your rights, lay down your power and ability to take what is rightfully yours?... do what is right tho those closest to you sin against you.. hurt you... put you last in their life as tho your love has so little value...

Dying daily is so not about the outward appearances and ritual and stripping of ourselves... Dying daily is letting your heart be ripped and twisted and walked on.. all the while, trusting God to not let your death be in vain <3


~ "As for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I shall never be moved.”
By your favor, O Lord,
you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.


To you, O Lord, I cry,
and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
“What profit is there in my death,
     if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”


You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!"

(Psalm 30b)

This psalm is so powerful because you feel the struggle of looking at the life we walk now, crying out to God in the night.. and yet looking ahead to that day that will come.. when the night is behind us and something we have conquered.


~ The truly wonderul thing about it all is that by your dying daily.. you make those you love, who sin against you, to be able to claim Psalm 30 as well... if they choose to..

""I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit."