Morning by Morning, April 6 - Secure in Identity in the Garden of Gethsemane Good morning, Lord Jesus. I’m humbled as I think of You and Your love for me, watching and waiting for the leading of Your Spirit to begin my day. ... On that Thursday night of that Holy Week, You shared Your last supper with Your disciples, washing their feet and preparing their hearts, knowing in your heart the one who would openly betray You and the one who would openly deny You (John 13:1-38). You spoke to them about loving one another, serving one another, and living out their faith to share it with others in the Presence and power of Your Holy Spirit who would come into their hearts in Your name (John 14, 15, 16, and 17). Then You went out to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray (John 18:1). What comes to mind is the scene from the Garden when the soldiers came to arrest You: “After Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with His disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to Him, came forward and asked them, ‘Whom are you looking for?’ They answered, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus replied, ‘I am He.’ Judas, who betrayed Him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, ‘I am He,’ they stepped back and fell to the ground” (John 18:1-6). When You spoke the words, “I am He,” those who came to arrest You couldn’t stand in Your presence. Something in You and in the power of Your words pushed them “back” until they “fell to the ground.” In that moment, the darkness of their souls could not stand in the light of the glory of Your Presence. There’s power in Your name. There’s power in Your identity. There’s power in Your words and Your voice and Your confidence to stand Your ground in truth and love. Even though You already knew “all that was to happen to (You),” You weren’t afraid and You weren’t about to run and hide. They came at You with their “lanterns and torches and weapons,” but You stood Your ground with courage and faith and love. They may have thought they were coming to take Your life by force, but You were willingly surrendering Your life in love. You are “I AM” (John 8:58, fulfilling Exodus 3:14). Your words push back the darkness. And now You are in us and we are in You (John 14:20). Your words abide in us, as we abide in You (John 15:7). Fill me with Your Spirit, Lord Jesus -- “the Spirit of Christ” in me because my life is surrendered to You (Romans 8:9). Give me courage and faith and love to stand my ground from the place where my knees hit the ground in the communion of prayer with You. Speak Your words of spirit and life in truth through me. Push back the darkness and let everything fall to the ground that would try to insist on its own way apart from Your way. And keep me secure in the identity I have in You, as a beloved child of God through You (Romans 8:15-17). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today. In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be secure in Your identity because of the security of the identity of the Spirit of Christ in you, in Jesus' name. God bless you! Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries Mailing Address: 412 S. Adams Street #148 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
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