Time to Unleash the Lion Within

Time to Unleash the Lion Within
It’s the 365th day of 2018. I made it — 365 days of posting a positive word each day to, hopefully, bring inspiration to others. I’ve had to make sure to stay “in the zone” by seizing the moments, noticing little and big God-encounters, and recognizing that God is always speaking. I just had to tune in to His still small voice, and, often, His big booming voice as I witnessed His object lessons to me through nature, His Word, His kids, and His embrace. I showed up for my daily appointment with God, and He was faithful and ALWAYS showed up for me. And, please trust me, my meditations have increased my desires to grow even stronger in my faith and witness.

I was deeply inspired by the message my daughter spoke at Dwell Church yesterday. “It’s time to stop with the labels of abused, broken, sick, defeated, divorced, too old, too young, too fat, too thin, too afraid and realize WHO lives in us. It’s time for us to GET UP and pick up our “mats” and turn those labels into stories of strength and redemption and conquerors who change the world.” Her message made me start to think about how we keep Jesus in the manger way longer than we should. He is no longer there. He is the great “I Am”, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and it’s time to unleash the LION of the Tribe of Judah Who lives in us and let Him out. I love that song, “My God’s not dead; He’s surely alive. He’s living on the inside; Roaring like a lion.”

Revelation 5:5 “But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory…..”

We’ve kept sweet, meek and mild, little baby Jesus in the manger long enough. We’ve set limitations on what we should or shouldn’t say about Who He is and what He has done in our lives which means as long as we keep Him caged up, we are keeping others from coming to know Him as we do. It’s time for the boldness and courage of the LION to come out of us to a hurting and dying world.

I don’t want to tame the LION in me and become a pious little old lady that looks the part and doesn’t display the strength of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah that lives in me. Jesus certainly isn’t a household pet that should be caged up and let out occasionally for a walk around the block with us. He IS the LION of the Tribe of Judah and as I go into this new year, I want to put the key in the lock and let Him out more in my life than ever before. Won’t you join me in that commitment? To free the Lion to do the things that only He can do if we will just let Him out? Being bold enough when a friend is in pain, that we remember WHO it is that lives BIG in us and we say “Can I pray for you?” Being courageous enough to invite a lonely friend to church or a Bible Study. To gather our family around us and boldly speak to them about our faith and God’s love and amazing grace.

Listen to the roar! Let the LION out! Dear Lord Jesus, I truly desire to set You free from the limits that I’ve put on You as to what I’m willing for You to do in and through my life. I pray that you will stir others to join me and to set You free in their own lives, too! May 2019 be the year when the “Lion” was set free in our lives! In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.