Good Friday Reflecting, Get Your Focus Easter Is Coming

Good Friday is a sad reflection of a daily reminder of what is coming. The weather may be glorious; however, is it more fitting when it is cloudy, as it often is on this day? No matter the clouds and trials of life, we reverently remember the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and joyfully await the celebration of His resurrection.

We may be in a tight spot on any day. Perhaps it will be one of the most challenging moments of our life. One can feel lost, sad, and abandoned, but we are never alone. Because of Good Friday, you can never be alone.

When God gave His only Son, we received the ultimate gift. Jesus, our Lord, and Savior, His blood, shed as He took the Cross for all of us. We can battle about the why’s, what’s, and hows, but on any day, close your eyes. Allow the quiet to still your heart and think of the possibilities of someone loving you that much. Enough to pay the price for you, and to wash away all the bad stuff, so that you can one day have eternal life with Him.

Jesus is available to everyone! He understands us; He gets it; He knows the winding road, and you have a journey because of His selfless act of love. Wow, I wish we could all love one another like that! You know, selflessly and knowing we are not worthy, yet He still loves us. To see His unconditional love and forgiveness humbled me for my flesh.

Looking into a mirror, one may see a fragile reflection with subtle or significant cracks; this is not the reality, as our Jesus sees us whole, covered by His grace and mercy. Because of Jesus, we live in the light of what is coming on Easter morning after morning on Good Friday.

I ask one favor of you today that you close your eyes just once and allow Him to speak to you right where you are. He will come to you in your weakest moments and lift you when you want, only to fall. He will pull you toward Him when you want to run and hide. Why not give Him a chance?

The remarkable thing about our God is that He is reaching down, and all we need to do is place our hand in His and walk with Him. He is right there waiting. How about you start with trusting in His promises? It will all be okay; you can take a baby step of faith for the rest of your life to begin or continue. This world would tell you to let give in, but the truth is we need to let let God!

Matthew 17:20 New International Version

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have the faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

I believe we can find this faith and strength if we are open to the call of Christ. Close your eyes and talk to Him. There is no right or wrong way to call on Him. Speak from your heart. Allow Him to hear your plea, and He will respond. Once you do this, ask Him to come into your heart forever, live there, and ask forgiveness for the sins He knows you have committed. When we focus on the sin of others, we are missing our part in the fall of man. We are all forgiven, and He said, forgive as I have forgiven you.

Because He knows everything about you, and He made you wonderfully. Imagine the beginning where He created the thought of you. He knew when you would beckon Him and recognize He was always by your side.

I find it funny that we think we are solely purposeful in seeking Him when He is reaching down to us all along. He promised to be with us, and He is. God is in the details.

Whether we recognize our core, work it out, or neglect it, the truth remains we have one. If we pay attention to it, we become more robust, and our endurance improves. For that same reason, we must attend and give glory to the power at our center of that core. That power is Jesus Christ within us, where core exercises strengthen one. The same is correct about exercising the center of our heart. We do this by applying discipline to the study of His word.

The lack of discipline in exercising our core makes us weak. While the muscles are there, they can only become stronger if we give attention to them, remaining true to our faith walk. We must exercise the discipline to improve the understanding of what makes us strong is to embody the faith and belief in Christ that is the core of our existence.

Galatians 2:20 New International Version

20 They have crucified me with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved and gave himself for me.

I am thankful that God is with us in every trial and every joy. Our life on this earth is full of peaks and valleys, which will not change; believing in Him allows a forever love that holds fast in every storm. Even the most damaging winds, He is right in the center, shielding us from the evil that attempts to knock us off course away from Him. His hands are high and steady, with the tightest grip that never loosens.

When we recognize Christ is dwelling inside of us, everything changes. We still have pain and days where we can barely breathe or understand as we make mistakes of the flesh because we are human and live in the flesh. Also, some trials are confusing as they are out of our control. Therefore, don't be too hard on yourself. Remember that you now live by faith, and Christ lives in you.

Occasionally, you may lose your footing. You might make a desperate cry to the heavens. You could say, "I can't do this, one more day, hour, or minute." But see, God can!

He paid for it all, and when we forget that, He reveals Himself through others. Perhaps with a kind word of encouragement or some respite until we can re-group. When we go to Him, He will help us get through the minutes, hours, and at last, every day. Until we go to be with Him, or He comes again to bring us all home together.

How cool is it to have someone that unique looking out for you and to find Him so easily when He is your center, your core?

We mourn because He lives, and Good Friday allows us to leave it at the cross!