Why “Christ Is My Life”?
As I sit and reflect on these words which were impressed upon my heart a few years ago, Paul’s words in Galatians 2:20 come to mind and are as follows: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
When I was elementary age, I secretly coveted the gift of a beautiful singing voice. I would often fantasize about what it would be like to be on a stage singing, filling peoples ears and hearts with wonder and awe at how great I sounded. Maybe because I love music and have always been deeply moved by tunes, melodies and lyrics, I desired likewise to move others in the same fashion. I do love to sing, but I have nothing to boast about when it comes to my voice. Fast forward just a few years and I remember being on some sort of missions focused weekend in grade 11 with a group of kids. I do remember someone telling me that I had the gift of encouragement. My heart sank instantly when I heard these words. I thought to myself, ‘who wants that gift?’ It’s not powerful, or showy and definitely not the envy of others. I don’t know why I had all these thoughts, but honestly I just sort of despised the fact that that’s all that someone saw in me. Little did I know how much I would come to appreciate this gift and desire a godly zeal to grow in it, and learn to walk closely with Holy Spirit so that I may be found a surrendered partner for bringing about Christ’s kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.
What I have learned and am continuing to learn now in my mid thirties, is that my heavenly Father has known me since before I was formed in the womb. He had a plan and a purpose for my life long before I ever tuned in to his loving voice. And his plan for us is not necessarily based on our natural skills and talents, (though he knows how to incorporate them uniquely into our divine call and purpose), neither is it limited by our lack thereof. Paul says in Ephesians 2:10 that we are “His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”. Someone once said that our starting point must be where Christ finished off. Jesus said to those who were willing to follow him and apprentice under him (ie. Disciple) that EVERYTHING he rightfully earned through his life lived, his death and resurrection, he now was freely gifting to anyone who would be willing to accept the truth that apart from him no lasting and eternal ‘work’ could ever be accomplished. My younger self had a dream for impact and transformation, to move the earth with the sound of my voice. A streak of self-concern misinterpreted that desire as a call to be a great singer. The singing is likely not in my future (though a girl can still hope hah), but I know for certain that I, you, we are destined for a great purpose. You have a divine call on your life and that call and purpose was intimately woven into the very fibre of your being when you were created in the image of a most loving God, Father Son and Spirit, who before we ever breathed our first breath or lifted one finger declared over us that we were formed in His likeness.
As I learn to surrender to Holy Spirit, my independent desires for what my life should look like or what I should pursue or engage in slowly find a healthy death at the foot of the cross, and in their place new desires are birthed. Dreams and desires that far exceed the dreams and fantasies I had for my life before I consented to Christ’s lordship. Things I know I am neither sufficiently skilled nor qualified for, yet realize I am being fashioned for. Suddenly, as if scales are falling from my eyes, I am beginning to see that it’s really not about me at all but about Him. If he wants to share his truth and love via blogging (though in my early mothering days I vowed I would NEVER have my own website seeking to influence people from a e-platform) then my only appropriate response to Him is ‘Yes’. YES, for He is LOVE, and to give our yes to him means to surrender to what He wants to do through us so that His love for this world might be revealed. For Christ to be my Life means that it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. It’s nothing that I could have expected, and it will end up being so much more than I could have ever dreamt of. It’s a wild, wild ride, full of twists and turns, but it’s time to wake up and jump into River of God and let him take us where He is going!