Easter 2018 was a little bittersweet for me. Yes, I praised the joy of a risen Savior at God’s hands. My disappointment centered around not accomplishing my goal of approaching Lent in a different manner. Little did I realize what was in store for me. My preparation for what change was coming came in God’s time in June 2018. I watched the movie I Can Only Imagine. In fact, I watched the movie two more times. I just didn’t want to miss anything. Knowing there was more to this story, I began to research Bart Millard. I read his book I Can Only Imagine for the rest of the story. I was also introduced to the music of Mercy Me, shocked they had been around 20 years and at the top of Christian Contemporary music for many of those years. This group considers themselves ministers for Christ. Their music opened my heart to the modern words of Contemporary Christian music. The lyrics were so beautiful. The song “I Can Only Imagine” changed my focus to meeting God after life on Earth. In the song “Greater,” the lyrics,
“And greater is the One living inside of me
Than he who is living in the world”
helped me find understanding. I am Redeemed.
With each of the songs and the story I began to understand that before Christ ascended to heaven, He carefully installed the Holy Spirit in each of us. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, our lives change because it is within us to be God’s hands and feet. Christ taught us how to live and died to redeem all. The Holy Spirit within each of us guides our priorities and actions.
My approach to Lent is different because I am free and redeemed to do God’s will
Prayer:
Dear God, Thank You for Jesus whose example we followed. We live in grace because Christ died for the sins of the world. Thank you for this grace and help us understand it. Amen.
