In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

...

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand

*****

Chances are, you read that first line, remembered the song as "In Christ Alone", a boring hymn you move your lips to while the praise team sings it in church every once in a while. Do me a favor and re-read those two first paragraphs all the way through, slowly, so that you understand what the words mean. 

Wow.

If we mean what we are singing when we sing this priceless hymn, that is a dangerous, incredible, breath-taking, faithful statement. 

In Christ ALONE my hope is found. Not in my relationship status, not in how many friends I have, not in my health, not in the state of my government, not on my salary or my GPA, not in the weather or my happiness. In Christ. My hope is only in Christ. So in times of drought and storms, I will be filled with hope. In the face of death, demons, and evil, my hope is in Jesus, and He alone holds my future. I will stand in Him no matter what. I will stand in His love and power no matter what comes against me. I will keep my eyes on Him, and I will live this life the way He wants me to, until He comes to me in the Glorious Appearing, or calls me quietly home. 

This is not something to be taken flippantly. This is the surrender of your life, of your desires, wishes, dreams, ambitions, comfort, and happiness. You are not your own.

But do you know what the incredible thing about this is? God planted desires in you for a reason, so that He can use them to further His agenda. He will take your dreams farther than you could ever imagine. When you sit back and give God the reigns, the ride will leave you speechless. In the end, it isn't a 'sacrifice' at all. It's a privilege and an adventure.

Here's a warning before you get started standing in Christ: handing Him the reigns is not an easy thing. He may call you to step out of your comfort zone. He will ask you to surrender your pride and your favorite sins, even the seemingly innocent ones. It will require you waking each and every morning and making a conscious decision to give your day to God. Our human nature loves control. Every chance it gets, your sinful nature will take back control. It will be a daily fight against yourself. But it's more than worth it.

Will you sit back and enjoy the ride?

In Christ alone, my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song.

~Michaela