Upward Spiral

photo credit: survelliant

A few days ago, I woke up feeling irritable.

This is an unusual occurrence for me. I love mornings and generally wake up happy to see another day.

However, something had happened the day before that left me feeling drained, put-upon and resentful. The fact that I woke up still thinking about this issue was proof that I had not let it go.

As I got ready to head out to run some errands, my mind still spun with “I should have….”…”I can’t believe they…”…if only I had…”

I know better than this; yet I indulged my flesh rather than taking all my grievances to Jesus.

I got into the car and the wonderful voice of Travis Cottrell immediately filled the space. His ” Live”  album is one of my all-time favorites and I listen to it nearly every day.

Instinctively I began to sing along with Travis and slowly tuned into the words I was singing:

He will live our sorrows sharing, Jesus saves. Jesus saves.
He will die our burdens bearing, Jesus saves. Jesus saves.
“It is done!” will shout the Cross; Christ has paid my redemption’s cost!
While the empty tomb’s declaring, “Jesus saves! Jesus saves!”

Gradually, my spirits began to lift, as the concerns of earth faded in light of the most glorious event in the history of the world: the Cross.

As John MacArthur recently said, ” On the Cross, God treats His Son as if He lived your life so that He could treat you as if you lived His life.”

There is an empty tomb!

I have been forgiven!

I have a place in Heaven that is being prepared for me by Jesus Himself! (John 14:2-3)

He is coming back!

My eternal future is secure!

My life is held safely in His powerful hands!

I have been rescued, redeemed and restored!

I can never lose sight of this astounding, breathtaking and momentous truth.

As my pastor in Florida always used to say, “Preach the Gospel to yourself every single day.”

In light of all this, my irritation was seen for what it was: silly, petty, ridiculous. It was time to move on and get over myself.

His Light broke through my day and rather than muttering discontent, I began to praise Him for the amazing grace that He has bestowed upon me.

“My very Presence radiates Joy in vast, unmeasured fullness. When you praise Me, your joy increases.”—(Dear Jesus by Sarah Young, p. 20).

Rather than allowing myself to go into a downward spiral, Jesus lifted me upward instead. He is always willing to do that if we will cooperate with Him.

Compared to eternity, this life is a blip.

Today, choose to focus on what truly matters…and let the rest go.

“Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget the joy of Christ risen.”—Mother Teresa