But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus (His FINISHED work), so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake (letting go of our flesh), so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
So death works in us, but life in you.
But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE,” we also believe, therefore we also speak,
knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.
For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4: 7 – 18 (NASB)
—
Jesus.
Just Your name is enough.
There is no word I utter that you do not hear, no tear I shed that you do not wipe away. No weariness I feel that you do not remove. No moment where you do not lift me up.
This is my love song to you. Because it is you who has first loved me.
Jesus I love you. But what is that compared to Your love for me.
It is my privilege to love you.
It is an honour to dance and sing in praise to you.
Though the sorrow may last for the night, the joy comes with the morning.
What can defeat me? Nothing.
Because I am in Christ. And He has already won the battle for me.
Let me be selfish with the time I have with you Jesus.
It is not that there aren’t things to do, for there will always be things to do. And they weigh upon my conscience like motar and bricks. But my conscience has been silenced by the gift of grace You have lavished upon me.
Let me never tire of grace. Let me never tire of you. Let me be hungry for you always. Let this life not be about the chase, but about the moments.
Let my strength not come from academic or worldly success, but from the knowledge of where I’m standing on. And I’m standing on You, my solid rock and foundation.
Be so exceedly enough for me.
Be my overflow.
You are my joy.
Wrap me in Your arms of love. Where safety is, safety that the world cannot bring and can only offer pale imitations of.
Whisper to me Your words of love.
Romance me.
Because this is the God I know.
The God who IS love. You are not the God of love. You ARE love personified.
The God who cannot help but lavish His love on me.
And I know.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
So I’m coming here Lord, to your feet… because there is nowhere else I can go, no point in going anywhere, if I don’t come first to You.
Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. (Psalm 127:1)
—
Aaron Shust – My Savior My God
From the album Anything Worth Saying
I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior
I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me; this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my savior
That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior
Chorus
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior’s always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be
Yes, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring;
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior
That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior
