Day 172

Day 172 of  The Red Shoe Project finds me walking around Rome, Georgia in my RED shoes.  Because there are so many of us gals living together at Mama Fire's house for the weekend, it was a little difficult getting alone time with Jesus.  Difficult, yes... but not impossible!  Part of getting away for the weekend with the girls is  about being  with the girls.  It's getting to know them, hearing their stories, praying with them, and experiencing Christ together.  I do love that!  

But going away to a Christian conference is also about drawing closer to the Lord on a personal level as well.  I love that too.  Spending each day, in RED shoes, looking for God, has taught me the importance of guarding my private one-on-one time with Christ.  He's my best friend, so I'm not going to ditch him for a good gab with the girls or a sermon about Him.  Those things may enhance my life, but Christ is the Source of my life.  I must admit, however,  He gives great liberty to me in times like this.  He knows the power of this type of body ministry because He's at the center of it!  Even still, my heart was yearning to  get alone with Him.

So what was the problem?

I woke up this morning very tired.  I didn't sleep well.  I think I might have gotten four hours sleep -- on a small couch.   That didn't work well for me, but I'm adjusting,  going with the flow,  and working it out.  When all the gals took a ride this morning to shop for food, I opted out, stayed home and rested.  I found a nice recliner, put it in the "rest" position, and read a little, prayed and dozed for a couple hours.  I really needed that!  I sensed Spiritual Warfare knocking at my door... and I wasn't up for the company!  You know that always happens when I'm over-tired...  the devil shows up, uninvited, and tries to move in.  I took authority and put an end to that, right there.

"Shut the door! Keep out the devil!

Shut the door!  Keep the devil in the night!

Shut the door!  Keep out the devil!

Light the candle, everything's alright!"

Whenever I sense the enemy in my midst, these days, I bind him,  in the Name of Jesus,  and tell him to move along.  He has no right to disturb my peace.  He's not welcome in my life.  As far as I'm concerned, he's trespassing!  After all,  I am God's property.  I know some may think, "Isn't that a bit much -- the devil this and the devil that?"  I may have that thought that same thing, in times past, but too often that mentality just denies the existence of spiritual warfare.  It's all chocked up to "weak minds with crazy thoughts"  and no deliverance from them.  I'm tired of things that don't work.  Speaking this way, with authority, takes care of the problem every time, so I'm sticking with it!

By the time the girls returned,  I was refreshed but I still wasn't ready for fellowship.  There was a heaviness upon my heart that I couldn't quite shake, so  I went for a long walk and had a little talk with Jesus -- one-on-one,  just me and Him.  We walked all around Mama Fire's property.  

It was a good talk.  I wasn't quite ready to be thrown in with all the gals yet.   I needed to get a couple things off my chest -- work a few things out.  Oh how I love walking with Him.  He knows exactly how to still my anxious spirit.

When I returned,  I joined the gals in the kitchen for a while, only to find that my heart was heavier than ever.  It was like a weight upon my chest.  What's with that?  Next thing I know,  I practically ran out of the house to get alone in God's presence.  I searched for a quiet place and found the gazebo.  Immediately something broke within me.  I sat and prayed there for sometime... interceding in the Spirit, crying, groaning, and believing God to take this unknown burden from me.  After about thirty minutes, He did just that.

What was I praying for?  I don't know.  But God, on occasion, will burden my heart and have me pray it through.  When it's over, it's over.  The burden lifts, the presence of God leaves, and it becomes apparent that a divine work has been accomplished in the spirit realm.   It's times like this that I wonder if the shoe has ever been on the other foot,  and someone, somewhere, without even knowing it, has been praying for me -- perhaps when I've been in desperate need of a breakthrough.

"On behalf of a man, he pleads with God, 

as one pleads for a friend."

Job 16:21

When I returned to the house, the women had just started to pray together in the living room.  I quickly slipped into the prayer circle with them, bowed my head and thanked God for His presence.  Each of us were prayed for individually.  Everyone received a special touch from God --  a word of encouragement;  a release of sorts;  a spiritual breakthrough,  a sense of His nearness;  an awareness of His unfailing love for them.

One gal,  Nancy, went down and out under the power God and was laid out on the floor.  She tried to get up a couple times, but she was so drunk in the spirit, it wasn't happening for her.  Finally one of the women leaned over and whispered,   "No rush dear... just stay down. You don't often get the opportunity to just lie in His presence.  Enjoy."   She didn't put up a fuss.  She was thankful for the permission to stay put.  What happened?  That's between her and God.  But she was glowing and smiling for the rest of the night.  It seemed a good thing... a very good thing!

We had a great service that night at the church.  When I returned home, I found my  internet connection was busted.  That's okay.  I jotted down my thoughts and will post them as soon as I get reconnected.  I was kind of glad -- It gave me permission to hit the sack a little earlier tonight.  I kicked off my RED shoes and found that recliner again.  I plopped myself in it... this time with a good pillow and a lovely quilt.  I quickly drifted off to sleep, reviewing in my mind all that God had done in this one day -- too much to write it all down.  

Until tomorrow,

Gail