You know, I’ve often heard that things that happen in the physical start first in the spiritual. Anyone who’s been around me in the last 6 months (or throughout the last 3 years) knows I’ve been dealing with issues in my back.
I’ve seen a chiropractor and an orthopedic specialist, had a steroid injection, gone through acupuncture, started taking anti-inflammatory meds, been stretched, poked, and prodded. Some things have given relief for small and sometimes longer periods of time but eventually all leads back to pain and my body not working as God designed.
I’ve spent so much time thinking on the direct correlation. Thinking about how our spines are the central part of our body and these parts allow us to be able to stand erect. Wondering and praying for God to reveal what in my spiritual life was trying to cripple me. Sometimes things would surface and I would begin dealing with and turning those things over to the Lord but never had a realization of “that’s it!”
I’ve been a part of a step study small group that just wrapped up last month. God has revealed areas of growth for me, places I needed to stretch. Places he’s calling me out into other areas of ministry. Every time I begin submitting myself to the Lord more seriously, an attack comes designed to discourage.
This has been ongoing for months. I’ve continued to pray and seek for direction and revelation. Sometimes we need a reminder that we can’t do it on our own. Sometimes we forget to acknowledge where we’ve been and what God has done to move us this far. I know I’m a never ending work in progress and that the Lord is faithful to complete that work in me all the way through to the time I’m called on to heaven. God is faithful. God is good.
The past few weeks have been one attack after another. The enemy sometimes uses the people around us to distract and discourage us. I’ve certainly been undergoing attacks of this nature in my day to day. I’ve struggled with a colleague daily and have struggled to maintain my joy. I’ve asked close friends of mine to join in prayer with me over this situation because I have learned that we must lean on our brothers and sisters in faith and lift one another up (bear one another’s burdens). The more I pray, the more draining the day to day encounters have become.
I’ve finally reached a place where I’ve said “no more.” I’m unwilling to accept this reality for myself. I’m unwilling to walk in anything but the joy of the Lord. I’m unwilling to carry this burden and am trusting my God who loves me deeply and completely to bring me through victorious and allow me to fulfill his purpose in this situation.
Now…let me tell you when you begin to pray in this manner…the enemy is NOT a fan. The past two nights, I’ve had encounters with my body that have tried to completely dehabilitate me. My body has physically attempted to give out and in those moments, rather than operating in a “woe is me” mentality, I’ve began to speak the name of Jesus and cry out in earnest, acknowledging my need for a savior and source of strength. I’ve begun to openly rebuke the enemy and to continue claiming the promises of the Lord in my life and in my body. The more I cry out, the harder the oppression, it seems. BUT there is a breaking point. Right when I feel like saying “I’m just not going to make it,” I instead rebuke the enemy and speak God’s word and promises over my body and my life.
Am I perfect? Not by any means. Am I some super Christian? Not even a little bit. Do I have it figured out? No way, man. Do I know that I am not my own source? That there is no good within myself except what is in God? You betcha. Do I know that even when I don’t feel like it, I MUST declare the promises of God over myself and my life? Absolutely. Do I know that I can claim the power and authority given to me by the Holy Spirit and take back all the enemy is attempting to steal, kill, and destroy? Yes, I do!
I’m awake and declaring in the wee hours of the night right now because I know that the enemy thinks the night time is when I’m the best prey…but the Lord also knows “this is when her heart is silent and I can speak to her.”
So if you’re struggling, feeling at the end of your rope and knowing you can’t stand anymore. If you’re telling the Lord “I just can’t keep doing this. Jump in!” I see you. I understand. Know that the Lord is right there with you, cheering you forward. He’s there to withhold and sustain you, just call out to him. When you know you have no more strength…good! Begin to operate in the strength of the Lord instead. Kick the devil square in the teeth and take back what he’s trying to sneak off with. We can move forward inch by inch, one foot at a time. We may not be sprinting but we are establishing ground just the same. Declare it, stand erect, command those things to get in line and don’t accept anything but.
Just Between Me & Jesus 