Soaked in Sweat… and Spirit!

I was talking on the phone with a dear friend today.  Not from the comfort of our house.  I had to drive seven miles to get a cell phone signal.  Our landline was still out-of-order, thanks to its collision with farm equipment two days ago.

I was in what we “affectionately” call The Cellphone Lot.  It’s actually the end of somebody’s gravel driveway, where it’s wide enough to pull off the highway and park without blocking the drive.  It’s on the edge of a wooded forest and a cattle ranch of who-knows-how-many acres.  A beautiful spot, out in the boonies.  Used by various service trucks and others in search of connection.

I parked in the shade, as best I could.  I knew my call would last an hour, so I rolled down the windows partway and turned off the motor.  I locked the car doors (just in case), and made my call.

My friend felt caught in a “vicious circle.”  She described the things that were happening, the “plates” she was trying to keep “spinning” all at once.  So many spinning plates, she was spinning, too.

No wonder she was not sleeping well.  Not exercising.  Not spending as much quality “soaking” time with You, Lord.

At Your prompting, I asked her:  “What is the first step you could take to begin to move back into balance?”  She has already planned it — a two-day retreat with You, Abba, beginning day after tomorrow!  She can hardly wait to get into Your Presence, Lord, for an extended time — a time of refreshment and restoration.

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  (Matthew 11:28)

Then she told me about the “internal dialogue” going on in her head.  Each statement clearly had an agenda to stir up her FEAR — plans that could fall apart, goals that could be unfulfilled.  But You have brought her a long way, Lord, since we first met!  She said “I have to remind myself of all that has been accomplished.”  AMEN!

“Sing to Him, look to the Lord, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wondertful acts.  Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.  Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.  Remember the wonders He has done…”  (1 Chronicles 16:9-12a)

She also acknowledged that the battle is fierce.  So You had me repeat the first statement in her internal dialogue and ask, “What particular Scripture specifically speaks to this?”  She came up with several!  She did the same with the second statement bent on stirring up her fear.  Scriptures like:

“My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4:19)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Then You “wowed” us both, Lord, yet again!

My friend is preparing to move to a new house.  You have started to impress on her the truth that You are her Faithful Provider — and the God who is always speaking to her, even in the smallest details.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid;; you are worth more than many sparrows.”  (Matthew 10:29-31)

You prompted her to consider a detail in her upcoming move.  A detail that might escape the attention of most.  The name of the street where her new house is located.  She looked up what it means… and You gave her discernment — a major WOW!  It is to be a place where she will cross over a river, in shallow water, with a sword in her hand.

It’s what she had just done during our conversation!  This “internal dialogue” was bent on convincing her she was “drowning” in “water” over her head.  But, in truth, Lord, You showed her — as You put Your “Sword of the Spirit” (Your Word) in her hand — she was traveling through shallow water, indeed!

By the time our phone call was over, I was soaked in sweat from head-to-toe.  It was in the high 80’s by then, with no breeze, and I had been sitting in an open car with no air conditioning.

But, better yet, we were both “soaked” in Your Spirit, Lord… in the Living Water You had poured into our conversation!

And we were both dripping with pleasure!!!

🙂

Abba’s Girl

 

 

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