Daily Devotionals by Ardith Keef

     His victory was in the Cross.
     Looking like a failure to all who watched, Jesus knew even then He would rise again three days later.
     But according to the Plan of the Father, there could be no resurrection without the death of the flesh.
     And so it is with us.
      I often hear preachers accelerate in their sermons and in the pinnacle of the hour they bring up the believer's "resurrection power" and present the term as though it is at the fingertips and one only need be aware.
     The fact is, the Lord has designed it so that there must be death before resurrection. This is a difficult thing for most of us because we would like to find a more comfortable way to freedom than the death of the flesh.
     There is no other way.
     Are you irritated by your mate? Even if he or she is in the wrong, your flesh must go.
    Are you the victim of misunderstanding? Even though you may have been intentionally maligned, your flesh must go.
     Do you feel overburdened and frustrated? Your flesh must go.
     This happens in prayer by telling the Lord He is sovereign and may do anything He wants in the situation.
     Resurrection Life comes after much pressing for heaven's way and the deepest yielding to His will.
    The Lord is not cheap and He does not dole out His powerful Life to casual onlookers. He pours Himself out to and through His Soldiers of the Cross.
     The Cross.
     The place of death for the flesh.
     And He makes it clear - if we are to be His disciples, we are to take up the Cross daily, and follow Him.