Rise Up AWAKEN - Grace Reyes
““I love the LORD, because He has heard
My voice and my supplications.
2 Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.
3 The pains of death surrounded me,
And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me;
I found trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called upon the name of the LORD:
“O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!
Psalms 116:1-4
”
I am in awe when I meditate on this Psalm. I am reminded that it was one of the Psalms Jesus sang during the Passover meal and it would also represent two of the most important events thereafter, his prayers in the garden of Gethsemane and his betrayal so that the prophecy could be fulfilled. Psalm 116 would then represent the shadows of death already upon our savior. Jesus sang the song of prophetic triumph over the sharpness of the hour of passion which he was passing. (He has made it over to all His own as their triumph song over death).
When reading the first two verses of this poignant Psalm and imagining our Savior singing, I think upon His willingness to take on this suffering for my sake. So that I could drink from the cup of salvation (Psalm 116:13) he became that cup that I am free to take it for myself. There is Grace to start over in Him, he who went forth without sin and gave himself as the sacrifice so that I could fully enjoy salvation.
I can walk boldly, confident in my healing, that by his stripes I was healed. As a cancer survivor; you perhaps can fill in the blank where I have the word cancer, perhaps he has delivered you from disease, depression, addictions or he has healed your heart. However, you express yourself, whatever the reason, I will lift my voice of thanksgiving for the grace that has delivered me.
I Love the Lord because, in my darkness he shone His light and lit a way to salvation, peace and strength. I Love the Lord because he did not turn his face from me, nor did He point a finger of condemnation at my sinful past. He inclined his ear to hear, as I barely whispered into the darkness, “Lord, please help me”. I will now call upon Jesus who took the cross and bore all of my sins to save me.
In the age of closed churches, I have built a tabernacle unto the Lord in my home. It should have been there always, but it is now up and running. In a world rife with racial division, his mandate to me and mine is to shine the light of His love. In a place where no one can see my worship, I have worshiped all the louder and more frequently. I need to, I have much to ask God for, as I am crying out for my nation, family, friends and those that have been left behind. I have so much to be grateful for in the midst of all the pain and sorrow. I have Jesus.
The cross blazes in my memory and propels me to a place of worship and humility. The Lord spoke to this sinner who writes on this platform of hope, because I have experienced His Amazing Grace, even in my times of trouble or perhaps especially because of it. I kneel before this crucified Christ who conquered death so that I live. I can’t help but praise Him, every waking hour of the day for deliverance. I am fully Awake Lord!