Within minutes of walking out the door for a women’s conference titled “In His Presence” my power went out. It wasn’t a problem with my circuit breakers, so I looked outside to see if my neighbor’s had power, but I couldn’t tell.
I got in my car to leave and I couldn’t–my garage has an automatic door. I pulled the handle to manually open the door, it disengaged, but I couldn’t pull the door up, it wouldn’t budge. I kept trying but no luck, it was too heavy of a door for me.
I called the power company, they told me it would be back on between 9:00 and Noon. I sat down and decided to just get comfortable and stay home. It occurred to me that the enemy didn’t want me to go to this event, so I decided nothing was going to keep me from going. I sat down, prayed and started to read my Bible. I planned to get filled with the Word and ready for my day. By 9:05 a.m. the power was on and I was on my way.
I wasn’t very late; worship had just finished. They asked us to introduce ourselves to someone near us. I told the woman I spoke with that I was expecting great and wonderful things from God. I knew something awesome was going to happen and that’s why satan tried so hard to get me discouraged.
I was right, the conference was terrific! One speaker spoke about the coping skills and emotions that are developed by people who have been abused. She believes healing ultimately occurs through strengthening the spirit, a deepening relationship with God and healing the soul. We learned imaginative prayer, which includes placing ourselves as the main character in a Bible story. I stretched out on the pew and closed my eyes as she read. She asked us at different times how we felt, what things looked like, etc. It was a healing practice.
I was reminded how important it is to just sit with Jesus. Since then, I have made it a deliberate action in my day, to spend quiet time with Him. He’s my best friend and I find myself throughout the day talking with Him. He goes to work with me, grocery shopping, walking, to coffee and lunch. He goes everywhere with me. I look forward all day to spending quality alone time with Jesus. I am excited and eagerly anticipate my time with Him. I’m aware of Jesus with me throughout the day, because I have set my mind to be. I’ve asked Jesus to help me to be aware and I’m changing already.
Spending time with Jesus is not just a feeling, it is a state of my soul, and it transforms me. In His presence I am changed, my soul is refreshed, and my heart is softened. This is one way the fruit of the Spirit get developed in us.
Prayer isn’t always talking, thinking or even trying to listen, prayer can be just being open to receive whatever Jesus has for me. There are times He brings things up and we walk through the memory or issue together, that’s how healing happens. It’s hard to find words to describe the presence of Jesus, and the transformation He can do in my soul.
“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” John 3:30
I finally get the meaning of this Scripture. I don’t know why I had such trouble with it. I’ve tried for most of my Christian life to do things I thought I was supposed to do. For instance: die to my flesh, seek God’s will, show the fruits of the Spirit, resist the devil, etc. When what I need is to spend time with Jesus. Here’s an illustration that helps me: if I have a glass with dirty water in it and I pour in clean water and continue to pour it in the glass until it overflows; and I pour still more water in it, eventually; the glass has NO dirty water in it, JUST clean water!
“…God is working in you to help you want to do and be able to do what pleases Him..” Philippians 2:13
All I need to do is focus on filling myself full of Him, not removing the undesirable traits that are in me. The undesirable will go when I am continually filled with Jesus. He will never leave me or forsake me; He will not quit. He will continue to transform me and finish the work He started in me. All I have to do is cooperate!
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