Exhale
Five Minute Fridays begin a little earlier now for all the eager ones, like myself! The prompt word is posted at 10 p.m. on Thursday nights to allow us to get a head start. This week’s word is: EXHALE
Ready?
Set?
GO!
Confusion and chaos has been our life for months on end now. We have struggled, cried, prayed, begged, and pleaded with God, and each other. Relying on our own strength has not gotten us very far at all. It has never been more evident that our source of strength should come from God above … our strength should be in the Lord.
We have held our breath as we’ve tried to do this alone. At times we have felt like we would surely die, the pain was so great. We have been disillusioned, believing the lies of the devil. He would like nothing more than to destroy our lives, our marriage, our family. He whispers the most awful things, and we believe the king of lies, deceit and betrayal. He wreaks havoc on us while throwing his head back laughing as evilness flows from his forked tongue. We fall on our knees, face down, sobbing uncontrollably as he digs his pitch fork into our hearts. Then God steps in front of us and shields us from a fatal blow to our hearts. He extends His arms wide, like when He was on the cross, as He says, “These are MY children, and you will NOT hurt them any more!” He stares the devil right in the eyes, and evilness has no choice but to slither back to where it came from. Our Father has protected us once more, sheltering us with His love, shielding us with His strength, arming us with the power to go on.
And so, we do, as we slowly exhale all of the pain, the heartache, the overwhelming hurt that has been our companion for way too long now. We exhale the sorrow, shedding the old ways we’ve been living and inhale His power, His strength, His love. We feel His hand upon our lives even stronger now than before, and we know that we are going to be okay.
If God is for us, who could be against us?
STOP!
July 3, 2014 @ 10:56 pm
Dear Shirley,
So many of God’s children are like you and I, struggling. It is always comforting to me to realize that others testify from whence cometh their strength. Thank-you for your testimony. A FMF fellow writer who shares your concerns.
July 3, 2014 @ 11:08 pm
Gabriele,
Thank you for your words and for your honesty! Often times we feel as if we are alone in our struggles. It helps to surround ourselves with others who are strong in their faith and to offer prayers for each other. There is no way we can do this alone. Thankfully, we don’t have to. God’s strength abounds and is all around us. Blessings to you!
July 3, 2014 @ 11:06 pm
I just said a prayer for you. Yes, He opens His arms wide, takes us in, and defends us. He is always for us. I’m encouraged by your words tonight!
July 3, 2014 @ 11:19 pm
Bless your heart, Jennifer. Thank you so much for your prayers. I appreciate them more than you know. We are strong and empowered by God above, and it helps to know that we’re not alone on this path. Thank you again, Jennifer.
July 4, 2014 @ 10:18 am
Amen! If God is for us who can be against! I love how you have recognized God’s strength in your lives and how He stands up for us through all our messiness. Blessed by your post today! Thanks for stopping by my place too! Happy 4th! Mary
July 4, 2014 @ 12:37 pm
Aww, thank you, Mary! Blessings to you, dear one!
July 4, 2014 @ 1:35 pm
For I am convinced that NOTHING can seperate us from the love of God which is ours in Jesus Christ! Thanks for sharing.
July 5, 2014 @ 9:04 pm
So very true and very powerful words. Thank you, Carolyn!
July 6, 2014 @ 10:03 pm
One of my absolutely favorite verses in the Bible. May you feel God’s presence (for surely he is near) as you experience the flaming arrows of the accuser. Don’t believe those lies!
July 7, 2014 @ 9:20 pm
Thank you so much, Anita. The enemy is being defeated as I type this. Praise God Almighty!