Overcoming Again

She lay flattened on the floor, the wind knocked out of her from the never ending battle. She awakened each day this way, a lingering shred of hopelessness refusing to let go. Was she a mother sorrowing for her adult children, their choices hurting them? A wife caring for her ailing husband? One enduring her own chronic health issues? One struggling day to day to provide food for her family? One standing against causes of suffering? A grandmother grieving for her grandchildren? Or was she bearing some other oppressive burden that just would not let go? And so she prayed…there was absolutely no higher place to bring her supplications for those of her heart, or for herself, than before Jesus, King above all kings, King of the Universe.

It was an ongoing battle. The world and forces of evil relentlessly sucked more into bondage through attacks aimed at most tender, vulnerable spots. Previously subtle covert measures had become blatant, public proclamations. And the masses…dumbed down over years of trickling twisted lies, the ploys of the evil one in the Garden of Eden stuck on replay through endless generations…drank in the poison, gulping it in their desperate need, not knowing it was killing them.

Overcoming. The call to all who follow Christ the King. Salvation and new life given to all who accept His unfathomable Holy gift…His own life sacrificed through death on a cross carrying the weight of all of mankind’s sins. Crucified and buried. Dead. For three days in a tomb His breathless physical body lay…flattened on the floor.

Thankfully she was still breathing, though sorrow pressed heavily. Her spirit’s only strength to overcome rested solely on Christ’s Risen Spirit lifting hers, He who overcame death itself, His body resurrected so hers, too, would be. She had received salvation, her spirit was reborn. Yet in the fierce spiritual battle of evil desperately clawing to defeat and claim all it could, she needed the refilling strength, presence of her King’s Holy Spirit within her to overcome and overcome again.

She breathed a prayer in her exhaustion, apologetic for her weakness, yet knowing the infinite Love and Grace of Jesus pouring over and filling her, enabling her to stand once more. It took the gift of time dwelling in His presence, listening to His words of encouragement. Time to be quiet and just be, let Hope strengthen her heart. He would show her the way, the Faithful Shepherd leading His lamb. With Him, one moment at a time, she, too, could overcome.

~~~

LORD, thank You that You give us Your strength to overcome. In ourselves we can do nothing against the forces we face. All ability, talent, intelligence we might have…even our brokenness…is a gift from You. As You have given us life, LORD, we give ours back to You to be strengthened and raised above all that would defeat us. Strengthen us, LORD, to overcome through You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Isaiah 12:2 NKJV “Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation.’”

Psalm 73:25-26 “Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. 26 My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”