For a while now, I've had this condition in my right arm which I can trace back to the end of autumn last year when being a bit too 'over-zealous' working in my mother's garden!
To look at me you'd never guess there was anything amiss as I can do most every daily task required using this particular arm..
However, the type of movement required when it comes to undressing for bed has caused such intense pain, it has brought tears to my eyes, forcing me to go into all sorts of strange contortions when removing jumpers and underwear..
Well anyway, after three months of this, a couple of weeks ago I decided, enough is enough.
I'd been for prayer a couple of times, 'believing I received' and 'having done all' was still standing in faith for healing...also praying over the arm every day..but now the revelation seemed to be that something further needed to happen in order to gain the breakthrough!
So, standing there yet again in my bedroom bracing myself to undress, I suddenly remembered talk of a 'battle-cry'.
This is apparently what brave warriors do when charging towards the enemy. So anyway, with renewed determination, I set about undressing as normal..this time pushing through, without the usual contortions and at the same time, yelling out as loud as I could!
It wasn't exactly 'Geronimo' but did come from deep down in my guts..
Did it still hurt? Yes it did...lol..but ever since then, there's been a definite lessening of pain as, little by little, I am able to move the arm more easily each day..
So how about you? Are you in a place of some sort of 'restriction' in your life?'
It could be a physical problem like mine...or mental...emotional? Or maybe certain circumstances seem to be hemming you in..
Well whatever it is, the Good New is, the Lord wants you to advance out of it...because there is a purpose, and a destiny to fulfil!
In Psalm 23 we see that 'the Lord is our Shepherd' and in verse 4 of the Amplified Version, says how we can 'walk 'through' (not remain in) the deep sunless valley of the shadow of death..'
God's will for us is to advance and to walk out of our dark situation guided by Him to the other side, and all we have to do is seek Him daily for wisdom as we go..allowing Him to be our Shepherd..
Psalm 119 v 105 tells us; 'Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path..'
And in the Gospel of John we are assured of Him being our Counsellor, Comforter, Helper, Strengthener, and Standby...not to mention; 'a very present Help in time of trouble!'
Chapter 14 v 16 and 26 also Psalm 46 (Amp)
And He is waiting to be consulted!"..but if I go away, I will send Him to you (to be in close fellowship with you).
John 14 v 7 (Amp)
Meanwhile, here are some more 'overcoming' stories;
I've had a DVD sitting on my shelf bought for me by my daughter ('Breathe') for about a year now. Because I knew it would be emotionally harrowing I'd been waiting to be in the right frame of mind..
Well finally, yesterday, I watched this true story about a couple who, around the time of the birth of their little boy, the husband (Robin Cavendish) aged only 28, was suddenly stricken with the polio virus..
Laying there in a hospital bed paralyzed from the neck down, he could breathe only with a mechanical ventilator and just wanted to die. But his wife would not allow it.
Instead she asked what she could do for him.
He replied;
"..Get me out of here!"
So now came the battle with the head consultant who would not allow such a thing saying that Robin would last only days away from the protective care of the hospital..
I will never forget this young man's response;
Rather than remain in the stagnancy of that hospital bed, he made up his mind to accept the risk of dying..'
Well, he ended up living another 36 years, making him a medical phenomenon as one of the longest-living polio survivors in Great Britain.
He also became a tireless advocate for disabled people, helping to develop numerous devices to provide independence to paralyzed people..
Another encouraging story;
Years ago, I read the testimony of a big black American football player who broke his neck during a game and was told he would never walk again..
However, he found out about a God Who heals, and one day whilst sitting in his wheel chair, decided to try and stand..
With all of his might, he heaved himself to his feet and stood for about 2 seconds before falling back into his chair..
He then reasoned that if he was able to stand for 2 seconds, he could stand for 3..and then 4..and then 5...and that's how he eventually left his chair...little by little..refusing to be restricted!
Finally, you've surely heard about Arthur Blessitt, the amazing man of God who is known for taking the Cross around the world?
Well, not long after the Lord commissioned him to go, Arthur found himself on a hospital bed after being told he had an embolism in his body that, if he were to move, could travel to his heart and kill him..
Laying there, he earnestly sought the Lord as to what was going on, and what should he do?
He suddenly realised that he'd already been told what to do! Then rising from his bed, he went...and has been going ever since..
"..It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.."
Galatians 5 v 1
"..The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army;
He makes my feet like hind's feet and will make me to walk (not to stand still in terror, but to walk) and make spiritual progress upon my high places of trouble, suffering, or responsibility.."
Habakkuk 3 v 19 (Amp)
"..The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me (the Anointed One, the Messiah) to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor;
He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed (who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity).
Luke 4 v 18 (Amp)
"Be strong in the Lord (be empowered through your union with Him) draw your strength from Him (that strength which His boundless might provides).
Ephesians 6 v 10 (Amp)
"..For by You I can run through a troop, and by my God, I can leap over a wall.."
Psalm 18 v 29 (Amp)
"..He makes my feet like hind's feet, able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble. He sets me securely upon my high places..
He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.."
Psalm 18 v 33-34 (Amp)
Be encouraged! x
