Taking her by the hand, He (Jesus) said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you arise.”

I read this verse in Mark chapter five several years ago. It’s a great story—I suggest you read the whole thing. However, one verse seemed to jump off the page and awaken my spirit when I read it: Jesus is speaking to a dead girl. She is only twelve years old, and the entire household and what seems to be the entire neighborhood believe she is dead. When Jesus enters the scene, he tells them that she’s only sleeping, and they begin to laugh.

Jesus is so serious about what He believes, which is contrary to everyone surrounding Him; He asks them all to stay outside, with the exception of her parents and three of His disciples, when He enters her room and performs this extraordinary miracle.

A little backstory: her father was an important figure in the Synagogue. His name was Jairus. He approached Jesus on the road and told Him the urgency of the matter. Jesus agreed to help Him and His daughter. The crowd was thick as Jesus made His way to the girl, but on the way, a woman touched his garment; she was known as the woman with an issue of blood. As Jesus healed and tended to her, Jairus daughter died. Jairus’ people sent word so as not to bother the teacher. But Jesus overheard this and said, “Do not fear, only believe.”

I could never put words to why this story seemed to send volts of electricity through my veins. As I have read this story many times over, I seem to smile as if my Spirit knows something my mind doesn’t. Has that ever happened to you while reading God’s word? His word is alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. In this case, for me at least, eternity seemed to enter time for a moment that was yet to come. I believe that moment is today!

Talitha Cumi — Little girl, I say to you, arise.

The time is now.

What’s the dead thing Jesus is speaking to me about in this moment? Well, the answer is me! The me that has been killed by my ideal self. The me that has believed the lies that I am not good enough….until “this” or “that” happens. The me that has been lost in self-help and daydreams. The me that Jesus created long ago and knit together in my mother’s womb. That’s the me that He is calling forth and telling to arise.

The me that He originally intended to walk on this earth. It’s the best version of me. It’s the version that He still has control over and can shape and transform into the image of Himself. It’s surrendered and just out of a slumber that was deep and has been awakened to the voice of it’s creator.

It’s ready to hear what’s next. It’s ready to be told where to go and what to do. Be lead forth by the lamp at my feet and walk on the straight paths He makes for me as I acknowledge Him in all my ways.

It’s ready not to fear but only believe as I walk with Jesus and follow Him all at the same time. A me that is alive and awakened to why I’ve been placed on this earth. And go into places that seem hopeless with a faith that changes dead things.–to sleeping things–to awake and moving things.

Are you like me today after hearing those two words? Are you ready to arise and not be swayed by what your circumstances look like but believe what Jesus says about them? To not listen to the crowd or be disappointed when it seems like Jesus is taking too long? To walk in a faith that is steadied by the assurance you are exactly who God created you to be for such a time as this?

I pray we can let all those words jump-start our spirits, walk away from the distractions and lies, and enter the place where God leads us as our true, authentic, arisen selves!