Today is Day 157 of The Red Shoe Project. There is a tropical storm going on in my neck of the woods. It's pouring buckets of rain outside my window, but my feet are snug and warm in Granny's hand-knit, RED socks. There's something that I simply love about this kind of rain. It so reminds me of the day I gave my life to the Lord. It was just like this... gray, messy and wet! Just goes to show that GREAT things can happen on rainy days! That day was the greatest day of my life!I woke up this morning binding the enemy and taking control of this day in Jesus' name! That was a good way to start the day! I felt rested and strong... at least for the moment, and secured my connection with Christ, digging my heals in, and standing firm! I've determined to learn from yesterday's mistakes and use those powerful lessons for today's victory!
Bulldozers are small but powerful pieces of machinery. They are used in the clearing and flattening of land. Big plows are mounted on the front of them for the purpose of removing any remaining rocks, dirt, and debri, so that the land is left completely desolate.
Have you ever been knocked over?
Have your knees ever buckled on you, and down you went?
Pauly is an english bulldog. He is 75 lbs of muscle and built like a bulldozer. Every once in a while he will get so excited to see me that he runs right into me. Sometimes he comes from behind, and without intending to hurt me, he'll charge into the back of my calves (right below my knees), and BOOM! down I go. It doesn't really hurt. It's actually kind of comical. But I'm always taken by surprise when my legs are taken out from under me and there I am trying to get my balance, hoping the angels of God will hold me up. LOL.Amongst all the birthday wishes yesterday, was an unexpected hello from an old, old friend, I hadn't seen in years. For a moment, it took my breath away. I had to reach for the table to hold onto something. A man from the past. Someone I loved dearly. A relationship that I very much needed to let go of. Sometimes you choose to walk with God or to walk with someone else. I chose God. I don't regret that decision at all.
It's just that the enemy of my soul makes it a point to know my weak spots -- where I'm inclined to buckle -- and yesterday he decided to pull out the big guns and fire away. Really? What on earth made this person try to re-connect with me?
When you've been away from someone or something long enough, it's easy to just remember the good. I had to think for awhile why our paths had gone in different directions. But it was only a matter of time before the craziness of those days came flooding back into my head. Talk about being sucker punched. Somehow the devil managed to get my heart and mind on a bit of a roller coaster ride. And just for the record, I don't like this particular roller coaster! It has the tendency to make my head spin and my stomach churn, until I want to puke! How the heck did I end up on this detour? Was this the enemy's attempt to lay me out, flatten me, take me out of God's race?
Just so you know, this isn't the first time the enemy has tried to use this particular bait with me. I hate to admit that it worked for a long, long time... and I suffered because of it. But as my friend Bonnie always says, "The devil will come back to test the ground... to see if you've really been victorious there or if there's still a fight to be won.
It's official... there's no battle here. It's dead ground. I'm not looking back because that's the wrong direction for me. I'm focusing on what's in front of me. I'm fixing my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith. His plan is before me. Thereby, that's the way in which I must go!
"I have decided to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus.
No turning back. No turning back."
Gail
