4/22/2025
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. That is a perfect description of my life at times. I tend to stay up way too late, and although I am up by 7 am, I tend to drag. I've been asking Abba to wake me up earlier, so I can have the time to finish my blog on the same day, rather than make sure I check it for accuracy the next day. At times, I have to rethink the notes that I've hastily written, plus my journal, just to make sure I've included some points. There are times when I come up blank, because I've forgotten the impact of the moment. Abba is faithful, and He has awakened me at different times. This morning I did rise a little earlier, but I didn't have enough time to do the things I had hoped to get done before I had to busy myself with the business of the day.
The second mistake I made first thing in the morning was allowing my eyes to glimpse a headline in my email. Then another one. I had to repent. The one thing that I feel hinders my early morning time alone with Abba is looking at the news, even if it is a reliable Christian source. Most days I don't even turn on my computer or open my email until just before I have to start the Zoom call. In order to cope with the day, I must meet with Abba and listen, worship, just have good quality time being in His presence. That may not sound like time well spent, but for me it is my lifeline. I must breathe in the breath of life, or my day isn't worth squash.
I recently read "to the degree Christ uses you, He will break you." Do I think this is a valid presumption?! In fact I do. John 15:2 says that "Every branch in me that bears no fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit." Many times I've suffered under His pruning hook, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Even a gardener knows that bushes need to be trimmed back, otherwise they become unruly and out of control. We have some massive holly bushes in front of our home that have been left by themselves to grow at will, that it will take concerted effort to trim them back to a reasonable degree. I also have a tree in the front that has grown over to touch the holly bushes. It's a mess, but in due time, I will prune these errant bushmongers. Before Jesus went to the cross He spent the night in the Garden of Gethsemane (oil press), being crushed in spirit knowing what He would endure in a few short hours. If you have ever experienced death to vision, you will begin to understand a little what crushing feels like. I have been broken so many times, face on the ground, crying out to Abba for understanding and wisdom, feeling the attacks from the devil coming in every direction. I remember once the enemy was badgering me about something I thought I had done wrong, not willfully, but ignorantly in a time of great fear and testing. Finally after a long time of self-torture and a tormenting spirit that did not sleep, I said, "Enough!!" So, I picked myself up, went my way to "confess," all to discover I had done nothing wrong but everything right. But I had allowed the enemy to torment me, when I was innocent! How many times in a day do we allow the father of lies to get inside our heads?!
As followers of Jesus Christ we are called to live disciplined lives, and as an intercessor, I am called to be a watchman on the wall, so I must remain active, ready, and my eyes trained in watchfulness and alacrity. My attitude must be one of humility and gratitude, else I am of no good to anyone. Some days begin in a whirlwind of successive emails or other forms of correspondence. In today's modern Christian world, I see well-intentioned intercessors take their eyes off the Commander of the Armies of Heave, and turn to other people for advice without first consulting the Word of God. We often speak so piously, yet we fail to do what He has called us to do and to be. We let our guard down, and in a toenail of the enemy and his third of heaven consorts needling us again with the same ole harassment. What will it take for us to wake up and go to the Source of all that is holy. Why do we feel the need to consult with anyone other than God first?! I was aghast when I heard an "apostle," say he had to go to a "prophet" to ask what God was telling him to tell him what God was saying. Now I do believe that the five fold ministry gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 operating in this modern age, because Jesus is the same yesterday and forever, plus you can't have three gifts without the other two callings. God does not change, and He does not dole out the gifts in part. But in these last days as the second coming of Jesus Christ for His bride, the Church, nears, we must be discerning, as the evil one will trip you up any way he elects to do so.
So, stay alive, purpose clear, with eyes on Him! Watchful. Suited in the whole armor of God daily.
"...giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us
to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the Light."
Colossians 1:12
No comments:
Post a Comment