Let Christ permeate your life…
How much of your life is very earthbound, fixed on daily routines and habits?
How easy it is to be constantly on the move, often at speed, and to fill your lives with sound and endless chatter. We are rarely still or fully attentive to the present moment, we fail to know ourselves or our God in any depth. We have made ourselves ‘comfortable’, at home, living below our true potential. Come, launch into the deep; it may be risky, but it is worth it. Take time to explore the presence and power of God in your life and in your world.
Raise your sights and your life. Learn to live as someone who walks in the presence of the risen Lord. Begin now by reminding yourself that ‘the Lord is here: his Spirit is with us’: this is reality, make it your own. You can develop your awareness in this way, but give the words space to be at work in your life.
Lord, you are here…
You are with me now…
You, Lord, are present…
In your presence is peace…
Lord, in your presence, I arise…
In you I find newness of life…
Lord, in you I seek to abide…
For you are here, and with me now…
Colossians 3:1-4 New International Version (NIV)
3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Jesus comes to us now as the light in our darkness and walks with us when we are in the valley of the shadow. We can truly say, ‘Even though I walk in the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me’ (Psalm 23:4).
‘So, if you have been raised,’ says Paul, and he does not doubt that we have, you should raise your sights. You should not be totally earthbound. You should not live as someone who does not know Christ, but as one who knows that in Christ, life is eternal and that you will not perish. It is not what we trust in, but whom.
We should allow the presence, the power, the peace of Christ to permeate our lives.
Your life is ‘hidden’ with Christ in God. This is not so much hidden away but rather a hidden relationship through your prayer and a turning to him throughout the day.
Seek new ways of allowing your faith to have a great impact on your life.
Find ways in which you can give the risen Christ a better opportunity to ‘grow’ in you.
Work out how you can have your life ‘hidden’ with Christ in God. It is important to remember that faith is a living, vital, relationship with God. This relationship which should influence your life each day. Then when Christ is revealed you will still be with him and in glory.
Rest…
Place yourself where you will be uplifted and set free to be the person God wants you to be.
Jesus invites you:
‘Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28).
Take the risen Lord at his word, come to him, abide in his presence and here lay aside all that weighs you down.
Stay with him and if your mind wanders, simply call upon his name, ‘Jesus.’
Christ Jesus, our risen Lord,
help me to live my life fully aware of you
and to know you as the Lord of life.
You raise those who are down.
You are the helper of the helpless.
You are healer of the sick.
You are the saviour of us all.
You are here with me now.
I come to you, Lord Jesus,
for in you alone is eternal life.
Amen.