Are you downhearted? Discouraged? Depressed? Forlorn? Sad? It could be that what you are experiencing is “a heaviness of spirit.” Did you know that is a spirit? The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:12:
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
We live in a world that is growing darker by the moment… The proof of this is what you read in the newspapers, what you see on the news – there is no denying this, but if you are a Christian (a follower of Christ) you are called to be a light in the darkness. Acts 13:47 says:
“For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
And even then, we who are part of God’s remnant are not immune to seeing or feeling the darkness all around us. But although we may feel it – we who are in Christ, are not a part of it. Ephesians 5:8 instructs us:
“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”
So, I ask you, how are YOU walking? Are YOU allowing the light of Christ to shine through you? Or are you snuffing out the light of Christ because you don’t want to stand out, don’t want to be questioned about your faith? Are more concerned about the approval of people instead of the approval of God? We constantly have to check ourselves to see how we are living when (and if) we have declared to the world that “We are Christians.” The Miriam Webster dictionary definition of a Christian is as such:
“One who profess belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ.”
If you truly “believe” something – you live it, you speak it, you walk it. Do you? A Christian, then, is a person who is born again by the Spirit of God as he or she wholeheartedly trusts in Jesus Christ and seeks to follow Him in obedience. There is no other way to the Father, no other way to be a Christian, than through personal faith in the Son of God. “I am the way and the truth and the life,” Jesus said.
Luke 8:16 tells us:
“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.”
Genesis 1:4 shows how God separates the light from the darkness:
“And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.”
If you are part of God’s Called Remnant, a follower of Christ – you have been called to stand out, to let the light of Christ RADIATE from you so that others, even if they don’t understand it – will see something different in you. Even if they don’t know that what that difference is, is Jesus.
Are you experiencing a “spirit of heaviness?” I have experienced it myself, Holy Spirit helped me to recognize that it is DEFINATELY a spirit! It feels like a weight of sadness, heavy across one’s shoulders. Weighing you down. Making life feel as though you are “trudging through life.” It was never God’s intent for you to feel or walk or live that way. So, what does the Bible tell you to do about it? Isaiah 61:3 tells us:
“To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” “
David, himself said in Psalm 42:11
” “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.’ “
In order to get rid of the spirit of heaviness, you have to put on the garment of praise! And don’t go by “how you are feeling” or you will never do it! (I see you through my screen! 🙂 ). Don’t believe me? We are not supposed to go by our feelings – we are to go by our faith! And if the Word says to praise Him, we need to try it! We need to do it! So, what do you do? You put on some good worship music! You begin to praise God out loud! Think of things you are thankful for! Think of things that God has done for you – even if you can only recall things from the past! Things that are part of your testimony of what God has done for you, how He has blessed you! What He has brought you through! The Amplified Bible says in Philippians 4:8:
“Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].”
This is written in the Word of God for a reason! God knew that there would be times when our heart would be heavy – why? Because we are made in God’s image! God created us with feelings! God has feelings! (Did you know that?!). Listen, it is impossible to see ALL that is occurring around us, especially in these last days, and NOT be concerned. Not be disheartened! Not experience the spirit of heaviness! People are dying! Many in ignorance not choosing to expect the gift of salvation that was purchased at such a great cost for us! Many not coming to know Jesus as Lord and Savior and perishing! We cannot as true followers of Christ, not feel the impact of this darkness. It is and never has been God’s will that ANY should perish! But ALL would come to the knowledge of Jesus and make Him Savior, Lord OVER their lives. We CANNOT save or change hearts of ANYONE – but here is the thing.
GOD CAN.
God IS greater than ANY circumstances (however dire) you are going through or experiencing. NOTHING is bigger and greater than God. Praise Him! No darkness, no temptation, no illness, sickness or disease! No situation is GREATER than God! BELIEVE HIM! God IS not a God that He would lie! TRUST HIM! We can rely on the Word of God. Are you ready to remove that spirit of heaviness? Okay! Let’s do it together! Pray this prayer:
“Father God, I thank You that You see ALL things. That You know ALL things. I thank You that the Word says that “You are the lifter of my head.” Father, I thank You that You tell me that when I am down heartened, when I am discouraged, when I have a spirit of heaviness that I can bring my concerns right to You at the foot of the cross. That I am to come to You in prayer because You tell me that Your yoke is easy, and Your burden is light. You tell me that if I take Your yoke upon me and I choose to learn from You, I will find rest for my soul because You are gentle and humble in heart. I thank You for that. Father, please forgive me for my sins and wash me with the precious blood of Jesus, who died on the cross for forgiveness of my sins. And even RIGHT at this very moment, is interceding for me at Your right hand. I love You Jesus. Thank You. Father I bring these concerns to You:
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(BRING TO HIM RIGHT NOW WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS CONCERNING YOU, TELL HIM LIKE YOU WOULD POUR YOUR HEART OUT TO A DEAR FRIEND, WHATEVER IT IS TELL HIM! ALL OF IT, LEAVE NOTHING OUT. REMEMBER HE KNOWS YOUR THOUGHTS BEFORE YOU EVEN THINK THEM, BUT HE LIKES TO HEAR YOU VERBALIZE IT AND BRING IT TO HIM. PICTURE HIM PULLING UP A CHAIR AND LISTENING TO YOU, YOU HAVE HIS UNDIVIDED ATTENTION).
“Father, my heart hurts, I don’t see any answers in sight – but I know YOU are the answer. You tell me that You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. You tell me that greater is He that is in me than he that is within the world! You tell me that NOTHING will separate me from the love that is found in Christ Jesus. Father, I thank You that even when I feel out of control, or the world around me feels out of control, none of it surprises you at ALL. YOU are IN control and my faith is found NOT in my circumstances, but in YOU. In YOU I live and move and have my being. So, Father, I choose to worship You, I choose to praise You, I choose to believe You! I choose to put my trust in You! I thank You that You are working behind the scenes of ALL that concerns me and that ALL things work for the good of those that love You! I thank you and I praise You for being the lifter of my head! For making a way where there IS no way! For changing the hearts of those I love – removing their hearts of stone and replacing them with hearts of flesh! I thank You that ALL things belong to You, so if there is something I need, I only need to ask, seek and knock and the door will be opened to me! I thank You that You say in Your Word, “If I being evil can give good gifts to my children, how MUCH MORE so do you desire to bless me? I thank You that I will NOT miss my calling in You and that Your light WILL shine forth from me as a beacon of light to bring ALL others to You! And that while I CANNOT save ANYONE, I CAN shine the light of Holy Spirit through MY life that others will see a difference – that difference IS only You! I worship You Father! I praise You! I love You! I choose to walk in accordance with my faith and NOT my circumstances! I thank You that You ARE the Way, the Truth AND the life and Your Holy Spirit resides in me! I praise You and thank You for removing the spirit of heaviness upon my soul and draping the garment of praise across my shoulders. My Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give me this day my daily bread and forgive me my trespasses, as I forgive those who trespass against me. Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil, for Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. I love You Father, I love You Jesus, I love You Holy Spirit! Reign in my life for You alone are my Savior, Lord of my Life. In Jesus’ precious name I pray – AMEN!”
I would be surprised if you don’t feel a release after praying that prayer (or one like it). If you have made Jesus your Savior, Lord OVER your life – YOU belong to Him. Nothing can happen to you without His knowledge. God IS with You and He promised He will NEVER leave you. When you feel defeated or discouraged, or down – WORSHIP the One Who is above it ALL and He will help YOU rise ABOVE it. EVERY Time. You just have to choose to praise Him. Not because God needs your praise (He doesn’t), but He knows that truly praising Him BENEFITS you! YOU are spirit, that has a soul that lives in the shell of a body in a world that is filled with darkness. God never intended that for you – but when you allow the light of the Holy Spirit to radiate from you by “putting on the garment of praise” He causes You to rise above it. Rise above it child of the UTMOST High God, praise His Holy Name. \0/ \0/ \0/
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Is Holy Spirit speaking to your heart through this word? If so, leave a comment below! I love hearing from you!
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