Lifter of my Head

When it suddenly dawned on Peter, who was standing before him, he was instantly confronted by how far he fell short of the perfection he stood in the presence of. He was starkly aware of the nakedness of his deepest self in this man's nearness. Nothing was hidden from him! He knew every dark and twisted thought. Every awful word and act. And Peter fell to his knees and begged Jesus to “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man...” Luke 5:8

But Jesus didn't leave. He knew Peter's deepest longing was to be his! And despite knowing this man's darkest secrets, Jesus loved him. And that love changed Peter's life forever.

There is something I've noticed about spending time with God. The closer you get, the more aware you are of the darkness within you. The more ashamed you are of all you've said, thought and done that is wrong. You see and feel the perfection of him, and the contrast is more and more obvious.

But there's a weird dichotomy that comes with it! The closer you get, the more you realise the value he places on you! The more you understand your worth in his eyes!! And his love lifts up that head bent in shame - and moves us to walk as the royalty we are reborn into!!

So don't be afraid to come close to him. Yes - you will become aware of the true reality of the self you try to hide. But he lifts you up to a much richer and more beautiful expression of yourself than you could ever have imagined. Because he loves you. Enough to die for you. To make that happen.

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