“Talitha Cumi…Little Girl, I Say to You, Arise.”

My little lady sat on my lap as I was reading this morning. She made these little people and told me that I was the first one–-that it was me as a little girl, then her as a little girl, then a few of her sisters. 

She didn’t know that I was reading at that very moment a passage of Jesus talking to a little girl in the Bible who needed his life-giving power. And, it reminded me of the first time I really remember reading the story in Mark 5 and having it embedded in my heart last year.

“Talitha cumi…Little girl, I say to you arise.”

These words jumped off the page in Mark 5:41.

And I felt them deep inside. He was calling me…calling me to rise from the dead life I was living just as he called Jairus’ daughter to literally rise from the dead in the Mark Bible story.

He was calling me:

To no longer fear but only believe in Him.

To let go of what others thought of me or wanted from me and only think of Him (not people pleasing).

To finally receive His love for who He made me to be and who I could be with Him instead of staying stuck in the lies that I was not good enough, had to work to be better, try harder, hustle more.

To answer His call and walk with Him.

To truly come to Him, let go of my burdens, fears, controlling ways, and weariness, and let Him lead me. 

To learn from Him and rest my soul in Him.

And He’s shown me that so many girls, now women, are living that dead life abusing ourselves for a variety of reasons.

While we soldier on aiming to take care of everyone around us, there's a little girl deep inside asking you to hear her.

To know that she's important, special, fearfully and wonderfully made, and worth your precious time.

She wants you to love her well and bless her with the powerful, overflowing love of God because He created her and all that He creates is good!

He doesn't make burdens, messes, or mistakes like our enemy is telling you you are.

He is calling to you and here’s all He asks:

• Arise with Him – Choose Him over staying mired in the yuck of the world, being comfortable there because you know it when you really want healing

• Present your body (body and soul) as a living sacrifice – Give yourself entirely to God because of His saving grace and come alive from the dead enjoying new life with Christ

• Let Him teach you his gentle, humble, and loving ways – receive His love

• Rest in Him – Slow your mind and talk to Him often; let His spirit lead you

As we arise and go to Him, we can learn from Him how to be gentle and humble, or kind, to ourselves. To love the little girl inside and the woman you are now–not because of what you do or how you look as the world tells us is most important but…

To love the little girl inside like He does and give her a voice.

To work through past hurts to help find healing in Jesus.

To bless ourselves and bodies, and renew our hearts and minds instead of beating ourselves up. He will give you the strength and courage you need!

"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 1 Timothy 1:6-7

“Talitha cumi…Little girl, I say to you arise.”

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-2