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Song of Solomon 2:15 – Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom. (NIV)
Matthew 7:7 – Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (NIV)
I have mobility issues, and getting up and down the two front steps outside my townhouse is a challenge. Recently, I realized that every time when I planned to go out, I was getting anxious ahead of time about getting up that second step. I asked myself, "What is going on here?"
Frustrated, I said to the Lord, "I don't want this; it is messing up my life! Please, dissolve it!"
I felt a subtle shift inside me. I thought about the step again — and the fear was gone.
Soon, I discovered other things which I did not realize were related to the spirit of fear. Like the little foxes in today's Scripture, they nibble away, undermining our lives, so subtly that we do not know that it is happening.
I realized that one of them was the fear of confrontation. Coming from a background of family conflict fuelled by alcohol, I have had great difficulty with conflict. Understanding the basis of it didn't help. I toughed it out as best I could.
I now understand that I was angry when I had to tell someone, "I don't agree" or "This action is not helpful", and that the anger was rooted in fear.
Now, I am learning to deal with conflict without anger, and I try to make sure that whatever I do is rooted in love. I have to examine myself carefully because mixed motives creep in: "Ha! Now, I can get even over … ." When I find a bad motive, I ask the Lord to dissolve it.
Amazingly enough, my experiences with conflict are starting to change. Others respond in a level, reasonable manner, and may even consider my point of view.
As for the tricky step into my house, I check within. Is that spirit of fear lurking about? All has been well except once, when I felt a sense of unease. Indeed, that day I was especially stiff and had a little trouble. My deeper self was not fearful; it was telling me, You need extra caution today.
So now, I am learning the difference between fear and wise caution.
I know that when the Lord has acted in our lives, the unwanted behaviour can creep back in. I am vigilant, as I don't want the spirit of fear back!
So, what can we all learn from this? The Lord wants us to grow in self-awareness and in faith. He will help us to do that if we are willing to work with Him.
If you have a fear or other behaviour that you don't want in your life, talk to Him about it. Your experience may be different than mine, but I know that He listens and cares. He can help in whatever way is best for you. Why not ask Him now?
Prayer: Dear Lord, I have a behaviour in my life which I know does not honour You. I ask You now to remove it or show me how to do so. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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Thanks for sharing, Valerie.
Thanks Valerie, awesome! God is awesome!
Thanks, Valerie. Very helpful. God bless you.
Good word today Val!
Blessings.
Thanks for this very helpful and encouraging message today. Something I needed to hear.
Thank you for speaking to me directly. I have had a similar problem I am fighting and your devotion helped me to have hope. Thanks.
Valerie, as hard as this must be for you, God has been very good to show you the way to deal with it. Thank you for sharing this devotional with us. Blessings.
Dear Valerie, I just wanted to let you that I admire your stalwart service to our Lord. Through your writing, you have continued to encourage many readers. Thank you.
Hi Valerie,
Very good words this morning. We are so prone to muddle on, on our own, aren’t we.
Thank you for writing.
Thank you for writing to us, Valerie.
Amen! The LORD gives us a spirit of love, power and a sound mind and helps us to live fully using the wisdom found in Love.
Thank you, Valerie. Your present weather presents more challenges for you with your mobility issues.
May God be with you in every step you take.
Keep safe and warm.
Valerie thank you for today’s devotional! Sometimes I read a devotional and prod through the elderly writer’s personnel woes, often thinking the writer just want a simple audience to share their situations to. Today, I felt no irritation but admiration of a spirit willing to flex in the hand of God. We’re never beyond inside improvements!
Yes, I also have walking problems. Hurt all the time. But I am always concern about backing and getting into the garage as I only have sight in one eye. So before, I back out or am ready to come back in. I just say “OK Lord lets go.” Now today is another day and in the morning after all the prayers for my family I will end and say “Here I am Lord.”
Dear Valerie,
Thank you for sharing your story of God’s work in your life! What a wonderful Father we have! Your words took me back to the two days after I asked Jesus into my life: the “subtle shift”, and then “…[discovering] other things which I did not realize were related…” “Our God is an awesome God!”, as Rich Mullin wrote. Thank you, too, for the encouragement to keep praying about such things in our lives: the Lord sure isn’t finished with us yet!
God bless and keep you,
(BC)
Thank you for your thoughtful devotional this morning Valerie, I understand what you are saying/learning/sharing. It is important.
Having read it, it is concerning to me that you need to face this difficulty at all. I am not certain, but I feel pretty sure there is help out there for you from some assistive device program or other. I think a ramp can be built for you over the steps … and I think the cost is covered by some sort of health plan. I have seen these ramps built for others. It can be lifted off again when you move away or some change like that happens. A ramp with a hand rail over those two steps would work wonders. Wish I was nearby to help.
Hi Valerie,
I hear what you are saying. I have been held in the fear of driving on slippery roads for several years because of the number of whiplashes I’ve had.
This winter I thought I was over it, but instead it has been compounded by yet another whip lash from being rear-ended by a truck on the highway.
I am determined not to let the enemy, who uses fear to shackle us, to cause me to fear winter driving. I had brand new snow tires on my car, which, incidently, was totalled, but that didn’t help.
I have been waiting to get out but every day is freezing rain and snow so I am stuck inside again.
I guess, like you, if I want to drive I must ask the Lord one more time, to remove the fear. He did it before and I know He can and will do it again because He has not given me this spirit of fear, but of faith, love and a sound mind (which I translate as common sense).
We will weather this together in Him.