When Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20, NIV), he declared the person he used to be dead. His dependence on his own strength had been broken, so the life flowing through him was the life of Christ.
Brokenness is a prerequisite for experiencing the fullness of the Spirit’s power. It is not to be avoided or feared because its product is wholeness.
God is always in the process of breaking the patterns established by your flesh. He allows you to be confronted with the same weakness over and over again. See these incidents for what they are—crucifixion moments.
At a crucifixion moment, you are offered two choices: to react in the old way of your human nature or in the new way of the Spirit. When you choose to place blame on others or feel martyred by circumstances beyond your control, you resuscitate your self-life.
When, on the other hand, you choose to accept the crucifying work of the Holy Spirit, you begin to let the old nature die and the new nature emerge. Every time you are confronted with a crucifixion moment, choose to lay down your self-life.
Choose to surrender your pride, expectations, rights and demands. Choose the way of the cross. Let someone else get the credit you deserve; forget the opportunity to have the last word; die to the demands of your flesh.
The spiritual power that surfaces is resurrection power. The life that bears the mark of death is resurrection life.
Resurrection life is eternal life—life from which limitations imposed by flesh have been left in the grave. When everything that can be destroyed has been destroyed, then you come to know the power of an indestructible life (Heb. 7:16; 12:27-28).
When you surrender yourself to crucifixion, you can be assured that resurrection will follow. The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead will express that very power through you (Rom. 8:11).
Brokenness is a beautiful word.
Jennifer Kennedy Dean is the author of He Restores My Soul (Broadman and Holman, © 1999), from which this article is adapted. Used by permission.
Janet Perez Eckles 
Shawn Akers 
Abby Trivett 
