Awakening Day 5

It’s Day 5 of the fast and it’s all good. I’m really enjoying the fast right now. My hunger pangs are gone…

I hope that you are keeping up with the daily reading. I’m loving it! Today is John 5.

It’s a story about a guy who has been crippled for a looooong time. When Jesus asks him if he wants to get better, he responds with, “I have no one to help me into the pool.” And that is what we do too. Jesus wants to do a work in us, and we respond as if His help is dependent on other people. “Jesus, I would love for you to heal my broken heart, please make my spouse stop drinking.” “I am expecting a miracle Lord,” you might say, “but what about my boss?”

Jesus responds with, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” I’m hearing Him say… “don’t put your confidence in your companions, friends or relatives or even in that pool or mat. Put your trust in ME. Do what I say and you can have what you need.”

The guy could have continued laying there, not trusting, not believing. But trusting Christ is going to get you doing the unimaginable. He had to try standing, which I’m sure he had not tried in a very long time. He had to let go of the wall or any people that might have been there supporting him. I wonder what was harder… letting go of the wall to walk or making the decision to stand to begin with. Letting go of our pain can be so difficult to do. I remember a time in my life when Jesus was wanting to heal a broken place in my heart. I remember being afraid to give it to Him, and telling Him so. On one hand, I was afraid of what I might experience if I gave the broken place to Him. On the other hand, I reminded myself that there are no greater hands to trust my heart in. I was a difficult decision. I chose surrender!

You don’t need the pool, you don’t need your friends and you don’t need that mat… all you need is Jesus!

Are you still holding on to things that Jesus is asking you to get rid of?