Journal Entry ~ 12/30/17

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).  - Matthew 1:23

Immanuel is one of the most comforting names for God because it reminds us He is with us. When our sins made it impossible for us to be with God, He came to us. That truth is incredible to me. God chose to experience the sorrow and the temptation of the world, just so that He could be with us. Absolutely amazing. 

As funny as it sounds, it was actually during a song that this realization came to me, when I truly began to understand that God is with us. Jeremy Camp sings about this amazing truth in “Same Power.” 

I can see 
Waters raging at my feet 
I can feel 
The breath of those surrounding me 
I can hear 
The sound of nations rising up 
We will not be overtaken 
We will not be overcome
I can walk 
Down this dark and painful road 
I can face 
Every fear of the unknown 
I can hear 
All God's children singing out 
We will not be overtaken 
We will not be overcome
The same power that rose Jesus from the grave 
The same power that commands the dead to wake 
Lives in us, lives in us 
The same power that moves mountains when He speaks 
The same power that can calm a raging sea 
Lives in us, lives in us 
He lives in us, lives in us
We have hope 
That His promises are true 
In His strength 

If we were really to grasp the fact that the same power that rose Jesus from the dead lives in us, and is accessible to us any time we need it, we would be able to accomplish radical things with our lives. Imagine if we were to live every day as if the power of God dwelled within us, imagine how our priorities would change, imagine how our fears would diminish, imagine how bold we would be about the saving power of Jesus. 

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. - Romans 8:11. When I meditate on the truth that the same power which raised Jesus from the dead dwells in me, I find an incredible strength to face my fears. When the waters are raging, when the road is dark and painful, I remember the same power that rose the mountains and calms the seas lives in me - that’s where II find His peace and strength. 

Press on ~ you are loved 💗

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