The best part of waking up is...

The old Folger's commercials and jingle probably still ring in all our minds a little too loudly. But for many of us, while that may not be our brand, morning coffee is the best or at least one of the best parts of waking up. There is something so amazing in my house about time before my kids get up to just read, pray and drink coffee. It has to be strong so that it wakens my taste buds up and so that deep need for energy and vitality is met as well. After a long night with kids or just busy schedules, I can feel like "death warmed over." This overused cliche is probably more true than I like to admit. Life, with all of its busyness and condemnation and pouring out for others can really empty the soul. Those mornings with coffee I am reminded of how desperately I needed and still need resurrection power. We are all confronted by those kinds of days or even just those desperate feelings. I believe that these God given reminders are there to point us to much bigger truths than coffee or snooze buttons will provide. While I know that I will be resurrected at the end of this world, I need daily resurrection power even more than coffee or more sleep or sex or money or relationships. While I know that Jesus is king and that I was made alive in Christ many years ago, I still need Him. That is what is so amazing about Easter. God defeated death and sin and offers that freedom, confidence and forgiveness to all who repent of their sin and trust His finished work. But God also gives us His Holy Spirit to empower us and give us that resurrection power each day. In Ephesians 1:18-21 Paul referencing his prayers for the Ephesian church says it like this: " 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come." The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in me! So when I feel dead inside or far from God or bound up in sin or whatever is bringing death instead of life, the Spirit of God floods me with fresh power for the day. Truly His mercies are new and fresh every morning. So if you have heard that Christ is risen and it has become no big deal to you, may you be empowered this day to fight sin and enjoy Christ and walk by faith in the one who loves you. May each morning from here on out that you would remember the resurrection power you have been given and that you so desperately need to walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel. We all need the strength of the Holy Spirit to awaken our taste for God again to see that He is good and we need God to work and will in us to accomplish His good pleasure. Coffee only hints at that glory. Truly the best part of waking up is the presence and power of God still working and changing us in the midst of all of life's trials and troubles.