Okay…I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced this or not…and what I’m about to reveal may cause you to think I have a circuit shortwired or something.
Back to that in a moment.
This morning I read from my Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost For His Highest” devotional….today being March 26—the perfect words. (Happens FREQUENTLY)
Oswald writes, “If the spiritual bloom of our life with God is getting impaired in the tiniest degree, we must leave off everything and get it put right. Remember that vision depends on character–the pure in heart see God.”
Maybe withering. I was thinking TOO hard on some issues that were coming up. I was thinking I was doing a certain task alone. I was thinking that there was much to be done…and I was responsible. I was thinking…
Well, Jeff will tell you straight away—that’s where my problem began. I was thinking. I wasn’t depending. I didn’t call myself to “DO” the bloggers retreat. I would NEVER in my right mind take on such a daunting task. Like I don’t have tons of other things to occupy my mind and time….but the call came to my heart…and I was REMINDED that I said I’d be willing to do what He called. This was and is a huge test of my faith!
So here I sat…thinking of all the things that needed to be done. Completely forgetting that there were others that joined in the call. Sharing the joy and responsibility of decisions, etc. My mind became overwhelmed. My heart became heavy with the load! I began to feel myself inching my way to the “hole” conveniently located and dug by the enemy, his sneaky self.
As I was driving to work yesterday, I made a call to my oldest to check on the sick children. Virus-bug had invaded their spring break. I talked just a couple of minutes and then cut her off and said…”I’ve got to go. I’m on my way to work…and I have much praying to do this morning.” She understood. She knows her mom.
As soon as I hung up the phone I began. It was hard. The enemy had already began errecting a wall of gloom around my heart and I had to hammer it down with prayer. I started. The going tough. BUT the breakthrough came! About 10 minutes into the prayer God took HIS mighty hammer and slammed down the wall! Girl…don’t be scared by the rest of this….
As I was driving—praying…crying out to Abba Father—proclaiming His Son as LORD Of my life—staking my claim on the eternal HOPE—ASKING HIM to fill my vehicle with HIS SPIRIT…and flood my heart and life to overflowing with the Holy Ghost—I began to pray in that heavenly language—the burning and excitement began to build in my chest—and it began to spread to my hands…and I began to clap (yes, I was still driving), and I began to shout His glories! HIS PRAISES! PROCLAIM HIS VICTORY! THAT I can do ALL things THROUGH CHRIST JESUS WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH!!! IT is not my strength but it is HIS ALONE!
People I tell you the TRUTH—I told mother that afternoon about my victory —and the fact that I probably had already scared the other drivers because I was weeping…clapping…praying…and driving….I wanted to pull my truck off the road and SHOUT! I wanted to run around the car!!! With hands lifted!! (I can’t even type this fast enough!) The power of God is what I felt! THE POWER that HE willingly GIVES to each of us…OURS for the ASKING!
Why then—do we sit about—in the gloom…the desert places of our lives—accepting it as “just how it has to be”??? I ask you. Why? Because we are fooled into thinking THAT’s the way it has to be! FOOLED. TRICKED. BY THE ENEMY!
People…I need the flood of the Holy Spirit! I need to see beyond the clouds that gather. I need to see the desert spring to life. I need HIM to open my eyes from the blindness that the enemy has pulled over me. I need to KNOW that when the red sea doesn’t part in my life…that HE IS ABOUT TO LET ME WALK ON THE WATER!!!
Well…chew on this. I may have scared some of you so bad you’ll never visit my bloggity house again. Or–maybe not.
Christ is LORD of my life. There are things I NEED Him to reveal and do in my heart—so that I can become even CLOSER to HIM. First things first….water the desert. With the Word. Talk to HIM. Tell Him how it is with you. Don’t hold back.
I love you all! If I haven’t scared to too bad…I hope you will join us on our Bloggers Retreat! In October. Read about it here.
Jeff and Angie Knight 
March 26th, 2009 at 6:13 am
I love you dear one, thanks for sharing.
March 26th, 2009 at 7:17 am
What a perfect example of Resurrection power! And because He lives, I (we) can face tomorrow.Bless the Lord, O my soul …Kathleen
March 26th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Oh, sweetness, that doesn’t scare us. That is contagious. If anything, I’m envious…to have such a Holy Spirit filled moment. Only God could allow such a moment to occur while driving hands free, clappin’ and a shoutin’. I had to smile as I invisioned your cute self seriously running around your vehicle. 🙂 Heaven bring on more of this…bring it to all of us. Thank you for sharing. Love you, girlfriend. I keep watching for more details on Sisters of Faith about the October retreat.
March 26th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Oh, dear Angie… I don’t find this scarry at all! I find it quite encouraging.. encouraging that God meets us whereever we are when we turn to Him, encouraging that He can take our gloom and turn it into Joy, encouraging, encouraging, encouraging!!
March 26th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I’M SINGIN’ AND CLAPPIN’ AND PRAISIN’ WITH YOU ANGIE!! Woo Hoo! Jesus is Lord!! I love how you expressed your joy and it is catchy! NOT scary! I am going to share a quote I just ran across, I know you will appreciate it. (sorry I don’t know where I found it!)“It is faith that enlivens our work with perpetual cheerfulness. It commits every part of it to God, in the hope, that even mistakes shall be overruled for his glory; and thus relieves us from an oppressive anxiety, often attendant upon a deep sense of our responsibility. The shortest way to peace will be found in casting ourselves upon God for daily pardon of deficiencies and supplies of grace, without looking too eagerly for present fruit.” Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord. I love that you shared your struggle because I struggle with the very same thing…being given a mission and relying on my own strength…Cant do it!!! No wonder the cloud comes! Everything we do by faith is beyond our own ability to do. I guess Abraham and Sarah are our forerunners…using Hagar for fulfillment of the promise. We are prone to try to bring it about in our own understanding…Oh merciful God!Bless you in your planning and trusting! He will do it! Woo Hoo!!
March 26th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Oh Angie, I so understood this and didn’t at all think you were crazy. And not too long ago, I remember being in such a spot when I just cried and prayed for deliverance and He did break through for me.Thank you for sharing your lovely heart and for touching mine today with not only these words but with the inspiring comment you wrote on my site.
March 26th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
The only one that is scared of this is the enemy! Another child of God walked out of a valley and broke down a stronghold! You know that anytime God calls us to do something, satan is right there trying to discourage and prevent it from going forward. PRAISE THE LORD that you yielded to the spirit and let Him drive for you while you worshiped the Lord! GLORY!! Our God is so good! Something great is going to happen at that retreat. Love you, dear sister…
March 26th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Ang,I just crawled out of the weird valley myself. I wish I were sitting with you and I would tell you how very weird it was.But, girl, you and I are now free. Watch out Satan because we love Jesus and He wins!!!
March 27th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Been there with you, Sweetie!! Thanks for sharing your heart!!Love,Sharon
March 27th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Sweet Angie, I am so glad to see how Papa has come for your heart. Amazing how powerfully He comes for us.Thank you also for your sweet words at my blog.I was sitting her at Starbucks feeling so NOT inspired started to talk to Him about it and He started to talk back… and then I started writing….You see what He gave me.Love you much, my friend!
March 27th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Sweet Sister, You DID NOT scare me to death because I’ve been there in what I call a ‘pit’ of thinking and overwhelming myself with the help of the enemy! I’ve been there where I’ve cried out to the Lord, prayed in the Spirit and felt the MOVE OF GOD like a literal rushing wave of fire. As the Bible says, it’s like fire shut up in my bones! Praise GOD!And yes the tears come, the clapping, the shouting and you just almost can’t even believe you haven’t had a wreck but you know that IT CAN’T HAPPEN because GOD IS WITH YOU! He’s not only with you but He’s surrounding you and filling you with His glory.Sweet Sister, I’m praying for you and everyone involved and again, if I can be of any help, HALLA OUT!Love ya and praise GOD for YOUR TIME WITH THE FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT!!!!P.S. I just know we are truly sisters by the way you write your heart IN A REAL WAY!
March 27th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Girl you didn’t scare me! I’m just praising with you! I’m so excited that the Lord just poured His presence and His grace out all over you!! He is GOD! And we serve Him — this alone is enough to make me want to jump up and shout! He is the GREAT I AM, Majestic, Holy, Righteous, Perfect and AWESOME GOD. And we have a relationship with Him.It’s some exciting stuff!! Can’t wait to be with you in October!
March 27th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
So you know if we were there we might of just pulled that car over! I know what you speak. Once you’ve known it you understand. That is when you read something like this and just want to clap with ya.I plan on attending that retreat Lord and $ willing.You are not alone. Our brother (my husband ) is standing for all of us too. Ask your man to whip out his sword too.
March 28th, 2009 at 12:49 am
I find this so encouraging! I love it… “I need to see beyond the clouds that gather.” So true! I will miss the retreat… it would be so wonderful to attend! I know God will bless…
March 28th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Angie, I love the way you are so open in your posts. Thank you for sharing your heart. This has touched me today.
March 29th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Thank you Sweet Angie! I needed this post so badly!I’m having the Sunday night blues. The “I-don’t-have-everything-done-really-don’t-want-to-go-to-work Blues. Big time. And you reminded me to look to Him and ask Him to fill me up! I already feel more excited. Happier. I’m looking to Him! Thank you for shaking me up! I needed that.
March 29th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Love you, Angie! Talk wth you soon.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:29 am
This is proof that I am normal. I find the only way out of my gloom is to praise God. My praise and prayer looks a little different than yours, but it’s still the same. It’s our lifeline, HIS Spirit, His power rising up in us as we stand on truth and demand the enemy to back off. He’s a loser. I’m over him. GOD is my stronghold. I fight for freedom all the time. I fall and fall, but I don’t stay down as long. I’m learning. Just like you.LOVED this. I’m not scared. I’m freed.HUGS,Tiffany