Alive - by Dave Smith

lives of the first disciples, so he’s been changing the lives of
multitudes ever since, meeting them at their point of need.
So, for you, instead of being trapped by a sense of insecurity,
rejection and lack of self-worth, your greatest need may be to know
what it is to be unconditionally loved. In which case, just as Mary
Magdalene did, you too can encounter the healing love of Jesus, and
be transformed by encountering his risen presence.
Instead of being weighed down by past disappointments, your
greatest need may be to be filled with a new sense of hope. Like
the Emmaus travellers, you can experience the risen Jesus meeting
you in your disappointment, revealing himself to you through his Word
and his Spirit, and giving you a new sense of hope for the future.
Rather than feeling overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, your
greatest need may be to be filled with a new sense of peace. Like
the disciples in the upper room, you can receive the peace and
wellbeing that only the risen Jesus can bring – freeing you from fear,
filling you with joy and empowering you by his Spirit.
Instead of being burdened by guilt, shame and failure, your greatest
need may be to enjoy a new sense of freedom. In which case, like
Peter by the beach, you can encounter the miraculous presence and
restoring grace of Jesus, freeing you and filling you with new
expectancy for what lies ahead.
Rather than living without a real and clear sense of meaning, your
greatest need may to find and fulfil your true life purpose. Like
Paul, through an encounter with the risen Jesus, you too can find and
discover a new sense of motivation, perspective and direction that
enables you to live out your unique calling in life.
It may be that you still need to meet Jesus for the first time – in
which case I’d encourage you to open your life and invite him in (do