Doug Ceamer: Alive at Easter

Published 12:00 am Friday, April 19, 2019

Doug Creamer

            Why do we believe our leaders, especially our church leaders, have their lives together? We believe that they don’t have any really big problems. Their faith is solid. They have no doubts. They live perfect lives. They don’t struggle and lose their cool or their peace. Their lives are happy and they are always on top of things.

            I don’t really want to burst your bubble, but that is not the truth. I consider myself a leader at church and I have plenty of struggles with my faith. I am always trying to grow my faith and make it stronger. It seems to me that when I turn my attention to improving one area of life, another area grows out of control and needs my attention.

            I compare growing my faith to growing a garden. I will work on getting the soil ready for the new gardening season. I get the seeds I want planted, and before they can come up, here come the weeds. I don’t want the weeds, I want the vegetables. If I don’t maintain vigilance, the weeds will quickly take over my garden.

            Our lives are the same. I devote myself to prayer. I spend extra time seeking the Lord, desiring more of Him in my life. That area grows strong, not a weed in sight. I look over my shoulder only to discover this bad attitude has cropped up and grown into a huge plant.

            We have been learning at church that we are overcomers, not overcome by the world. As I reflected on this truth, I looked at an area of my life where I felt a little overcome. I decided that I wasn’t going to live that way. I attempted to overcome in my own strength, sheer willpower. I was not achieving the success I desired.

            That’s when I turned my eyes toward heaven and asked for help. The answer might sound simple to you. As I reflect on it, I realize that I already knew it. I have endeavored to repeat this truth to myself over and over again, to convince any doubting part of my mind that I am an overcomer. Here it is:

Jesus LIVES in me,

The Holy Spirit is ALIVE in me,

Together WE are planning a good future for my LIFE.

            I know it is simple, but it is helping me. Naturally, Jesus LIVES in me, I invited Him in my life. With Jesus’ help, I can overcome any situation that I have to face. I am not alone, as the enemy of my soul tries to tell me. Everything has to submit to the authority and power of Jesus’ name. So that big, overwhelming weed was no trouble for Jesus to pull out.

            The Holy Spirit is ALIVE in me. That means that the same power that raised Jesus from the grave on Easter Sunday is alive in me. So sickness and these allergies have to release their hold on me. The power of the Spirit is available to help me overcome and to live a godly life because He is alive in me. That also means that when I pray for others, I can release the power of the Spirit in their lives to help them overcome.

            I have Jesus and the Holy Spirit living in me and helping me to move forward into the blessings God has for me. I can live the overcoming, victorious Christian life. I have the same power that raised Jesus from the grave living in me, so I can overcome every situation I face. I imagine I will end up being knocked down at times, but I have Jesus and the Holy Spirit who are going to help me get back on my feet.

            Think about it, the same power that raised Jesus from the grave on Easter morning is living in you and me! We have the power to live differently. We have the power and the tools to be overcomers. We have to tell our minds to stop doubting and start believing. There is nothing we can’t overcome when we work with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

            I want to encourage you to remind yourself that you serve a risen Savior who overcame the grave. I want to encourage you to tell your mind that the Holy Spirit is alive in you. When you cooperate with them, you will overcome. Setbacks will only be temporary because you will win. You have the resurrection power of God working in you. You were designed to overcome. Happy Easter, you overcomer!

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com