It’s springtime! (insert contented sigh) The incredible beauty of tree buds uncurling and transforming into fresh, green leaves. Swelling buds crack open, no longer able to contain their incredible joy, and tender plants are bursting forth in vibrant colors. In another month, the details of a single blossom may be overlooked, but for now it receives a moment of glory.

Last week, I made a brief trip to Texas. As I was driving through the rolling countrysides, I was again struck by the beauty and creativity of our Creator God. I saw lush green fields gracefully covered with yellow splashes of flowers. Chocolaty brown forests giving way to fuzzy green foliage. Wooly nubs at the base of ferns uncoiling and springing into new growth, while puffs of pollen carried on the spring breeze gently reminds us of the blessings of future plants and fruit designed for our nourishment.

What is it about this time of year that renews our spirit? What is the purpose of the feelings of hope and excitement stirring within our heart?

Could God’s plan for Easter and springtime be much more than Easter bunnies, new life, and sunrise services? Resurrection Sunday should impact us in greater way. But how?

I think of the crippled man in the Bible who was not only crippled, but also sick and blind. He was lying beside the pool for thirty-eight agonizing years. Unsuccessfully scrambling to reach the healing water as soon as the angel stirred the water. No matter how hard he tried, his efforts ended up in failure. But that was before he met Jesus.

This man can symbolize many within the church. Many Christians are crippled, unable to walk in personal victory over sin. Why? Why on earth would we shuffle around with slouched shoulders when we have supernatural power available to us?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the chief foundation of the Christian faith. There is power in the resurrection! And the same power that enabled Jesus to victoriously burst from the grips of death on that first Easter, is available to each of us. His grace is more than sufficient. The resurrected Jesus lives in the heart of every true believer, and as Christ-followers, we should be able to triumph over the world, our flesh and the Enemy.

Our faces should be reflecting the beauty and glory of our Savior. Our eyes becoming the eyes of Jesus, seeing others as He sees them. He wants us to view the world’s needs through His eyes.

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Rom. 6:6) “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” (Rom. 6:12)

We have access to overcoming power in refusing to listen to the voice of the tempter, denying our ears and mouth from spreading false rumors, rejecting lying and speaking evil of others, or cursing in anger.

According to the Bible, we are supposed to:
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 2:5) Yet the fact remains that over 50% of Christian men admit to viewing pornography on a monthly basis. (Proven Men Porn Survey (conducted by Barna Group), located at https://www.provenmen.org/2014PornSurvey/) My friend, God’s word would never ask us to do something that isn’t possible.

So why then are so many of us living in defeat? Many of us try to live the Christian life on our own. We try to use our own power and do it in our own strength. But this never works. Many of us do not fully understand the supernatural power available to us over sin and defeat. ( I know I haven’t fully grasped it.) No, we’re not perfect, but we do not need to be enslaved by sin!

Someone has said that it takes a lifetime to learn that true value is not in the things our hands can hold, but value is found in the hands that are holding us. We are born with clenched hands. We live our lifetime learning how to unclench them and open them in surrender.

Ask yourself…is there something you value more than resurrection power in your life?

When the crippled man finally met the resurrected Savior, he was miraculously healed. But it wasn’t until he had exhausted his own efforts.

What is keeping you from experiencing this same power in your life? Have you surrendered every area of your life to the Father? God doesn’t want to inhabit certain rooms of your house. He wants every area. Including the basement, attic and closets. Are you surrendering certain areas of your life while hanging on to other areas of defeat?

A life that isn’t completely surrendered to God isn’t surrendered at all. Coming clean before God means acknowledging and repenting of what He already knows we’re struggling with. We will never experience resurrection power until we become real.

As we enjoy the beauty of new life springing up around us, let it remind us of the abundant new life God intends to burst forth from each of us. Easter Sunday is not only the bodily resurrection of Jesus, but also represents the resurrection power in our lives as believers. Is YOUR life a reflection of victory? Are YOU living in daily resurrection power?

Examine your heart, relax your grip, and open your hands to experience hope and freedom in resurrection power. How incredible and amazing that the spirit of Creator God lives inside each of His children. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16) Let’s join all nature in proclaiming the joy of leaving behind the winter season, and reaching toward the warmth of a restored relationship with our Creator. It’s springtime!

~Cindy (For The Mullett Family)