His Love Pushes Out Fear, His Spirit Brings Life

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Have you ever thought about what it means to be in Christ Jesus? This isn’t just a figure of speech or a comforting idea. For the believer, this is reality. We have a home in the very heart of God, where we are welcomed, accepted, and loved. And just as we live in Him, He also lives in us.

But it is up to us to let Him in. He is patient and gentle, and He will never make Himself an unwanted tenant. And He doesn’t want partial access. He wants to occupy all of our being — body, mind, and spirit. He wants us to become love.

Our heart condition is of the utmost importance, but God’s love is not limited to our inner-being. He created our bodies as well, and He cares about our physical well-being. But we can spend a lot of time worrying about our physical bodies. Maybe you struggle with your physical appearance or you’re challenged by a disability. Perhaps chronic illness leaves you feeling like your own body is the enemy. Or maybe the thought of contracting COVID-19 has left you rattled. Know that God is not just with you, but in you. You are never alone.

I can remember leaving the doctor’s office some years ago having been told that not only did I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, but based on my labs, my prognosis was poor. As I sat in my car trying to process the news, I felt the Lord reminding me that I belong to Him. Not just my heart and mind, but my body as well. No diagnosis is the final word in His Kingdom. As I reflected on this, I began to feel His perfect love pushing out the fear.

Day by day, as I learned to walk in this love, He gave me the grace to surrender my tired, inflamed body into His arms, to trust that His Spirit could bring life to my mortal body (Romans 8:11). All I had to do was let go, to surrender both my symptoms and my solutions. I simply had to let Him love me.

God is extending an invitation to you today. Take a breath. Let His life-giving Spirit fill your lungs. Let go and let Him love you – body, mind, and spirit.

Shay Mason

Shay is a Raleigh-based writer, speaker, adventurer delighting in life, freedom and authenticity. Fusing a love of words with a passion for the one who is Love. Journey with me into a spacious place at shaysmason.com