Willing to Drown?


A good friend has a saying: “You don’t change personalities when you meet Jesus. You just change the object of your affection.”

I’d always figured that didn’t apply to me because, really, I didn’t think I had much of a personality before I met Jesus. I pretty much just spent my time trying to escape life. But after sharing that concept with someone else, I’ve started realizing how true it is, even in my life.
I’ve always been looking to drown. Life happens; and when it’s happened to me, I’ve had no good ways to handle it. My solution was to disappear any way I could.
So when I started looking for God, that was my starting place. Although I had no knowledge of the Holy Spirit or the presence of God, when I began experiencing these things, throwing myself entirely into Him was all I knew to do.
I don’t know how to do this halfway. I don’t know how to want just some of God, part of His Kingdom, a little bit of Jesus. If in the past I spent my money on escape routes – was jealous of things that stole my time from them – made every effort to see that I was free to drown as thoroughly as possible – how much more can I now turn that towards my King, my Lord, my Father, and my Love.
There were times I was frightened by the places my abandonment to destruction took me. But the glorious thing I’m learning about being abandoned to Jesus is that there is no need for fear here. So long as my gaze is fastened on Him, I can go anywhere, see anything, experience all that He has to share without a thought for my own safety.
And the thing about being drowned in Jesus is that it can’t fail to affect the folks around you. As all you are becomes consumed in all He is, the flood that is the Kingdom of God begins overtaking and drawing them in, as well. Peace enters a room as you do. Joy follows your footsteps. Healing happens without a prayer.
Lots of folks talk about “going into the deep” with God; but in their mind, they are still clutching the life preserver. What a gift I feel I’ve been given that I don’t want anything holding me above the surface! I pray that same desire begin to rise up in you, a willingness to let go of your control to let Him become the air you breathe – even underwater.
Who else will teach others how to drown?
 

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