The Lion Inside Of You

Something has been going through my mind for many months, something that we Christians have probably all heard many times: “Christ lives in me”. This: “Christ lives in me” applies to all who believe in Jesus Christ. How do you feel about that? Do you believe it? Do you understand it? I have found that it is difficult for me to comprehend and accept it for myself. I am chewing and trying to digest this biblical truth.

„…but it is Christ who lives in me.“ Galatians 2:20

What does that mean, when he lives in me? We will never be able to fully understand Jesus in all his facets. What I know: He is powerful, wise, kind, nothing is impossible for him, he is love and much more… All this is available to us because he lives in us and if we honor and obey him. This also means that through him we learn to become wise, kind, loving and together with him do what was impossible before. I understood this in theory.

Then on a trip we visited Bethel Church in Redding, California. I went to a healing service there. You walk into the sanctuary, there is live music, dancers are moving around the room with silk banners, prophetic artwork is on display, and some artists are painting. You come in, take in the atmosphere and are free to move around the room or sit down and let the presence of God work. Right at the entrance was this large black and white painting of the head of a serious looking lion. My first thought: Is this what Jesus looks like in me? Is he a lion with all the qualities attributed to the king of the beasts? Yes, I can imagine that!

A little later, further back in the room, I noticed another picture of a lion. It was colored and the lion’s head was shown from the side roaring.Spontaneously I thought: No, I don’t see him like that in me. Thoughtful, wise, kind, yes. But mighty roaring? Hmm, I can’t imagine that. Later, it was my turn to be prayed for. Two people from the team prayed for me for a few minutes. Meanwhile, in my imagination, I saw this serious lion again – and suddenly it came alive and started roaring. Wow! The serious lion was within my comfort zone – and suddenly I realized that I should and I can also give space to the powerful roaring lion within me. It was empowering and invigorating, an Aha-experience.

With my mind I still can’t really grasp it, but I realized that I want to give him this space! He may take me out of my comfort zone. I want to be ready! I want to allow it, because I believe that with it I will live more courageously, openly, powerfully, actively and freely.

Yes, Jesus is in me, but he doesn’t come by force! I have found that it depends on me how much space I give to Jesus. Do I let him into all areas of my life? How much is he allowed to work? A little bit? Or do I give him a lot of space?

Back from the trip, I made an artwork because I knew I needed to explore this topic further so I could grasp it better.

For this artwork, I embroidered with wool on a wooden board by first drilling many small holes. The soft wool is symbolic of God’s spirit, the spirit of the lion; and the hard board is our reality. What I did with the drill, the spirit does in our everyday life with its power! And with the material wool, the grace of the Lamb is also expressed. Is this understandable? Christ in me works like I could never work myself!

Is Jesus the lamb who brings grace; is he the calm lion with his wisdom? Or is he also the lion of the tribe of Judah in you, who has authority and sometimes roars with power? What else does the Spirit need to break through in you and me for the lion to work mightily?

I would like to be more courageous! How about you? I want to understand Jesus as the mighty lion in me, because I know that I will be more courageous if I do! In other words, I want to be brave, so I need to understand that this mighty, wonderful lion is inside of me!

Am I afraid of his authority and therefore also of my authority? Do I dare to stand up and do something in his authority, even if it is uncomfortable? Do I see how awesome it is when Jesus is in me as a lion with his power? This results in unimagined possibilities, because Jesus the lion is victor once and for all, and we with him.

Christ in you, how does it impact you when you think about it?