After Mass this morning, I finally had an opportunity to “dead head” the large pot of yellow Mums sitting at our front entrance. Many of the blooms that once so gaily greeted each visitor were now black, soaking wet with the last rainfall and covered with mold. As I clipped them en mass, I noticed that it would do the plant more harm if I allowed the clipped, mold infected blooms to fall back on the thriving plant. One additional step was needed to remove all remnants so that the thriving plant and new blooms would not get re-infected.
As I reflected, I asked the Father what that meant. He said that it was not enough for us to clip off the hurt and pain from our lives …which we achieved through prayer and through counsel. It was also necessary for us to totally let go of each and to leave them at the foot of the Cross.
Although the Father has brought about healing, the Devil enjoys bombarding and accusing us with the same old memories so that we begin to doubt if healing actually took place. We can very easily succumb and entertain the old recorded memories, bringing about the same pain and agony which we experienced before OR, we can stand firm on the Father’s Word.
Following Jesus’ example, we can use God’s word, our spiritual sword, and proclaim out loud that “Greater is Jesus who is in me, than you, Devil, who is in this world!” (adapted from 1 John 4:4) and/or “God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore I will not fear.” (adapted from Psalm 46:1-3)
The Bible reminds us to “resist the devil and he will flee”. James 4:7 This promise, however is clearly directed to those willing to “submit to God” and is immediately followed with the following instructions…”Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”. (from “How we can Resist Satan” http://www.ucgstp.org/lit/booklets/devil/resist.html)
May each of us go forward victoriously in our life journey.
God bless,
Melissa – September 11, 2009
p.s. – For those who think they are not blessed in hearing God’s voice, I encourage you to be still and ask Him to open up your spiritual ears. Ask Him to teach you to “hear” him. He doesn’t speak audibly. He speaks through our thoughts, through a nudging or an urging in our spirit or through other inner promptings. I often recognize when He “speaks” because the thoughts are too profound for me to come up with. May each of us hear the “voice” of the Father. In Jesus’ name…Amen!