Afflictions

'A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all." Psalm 34:19






Have you ever felt this way? Broke, hungry, and in need of some kindness? And trust me, I'm not really talking about in a physical sense. I am talking in a spiritual sense. If you are not one of the "spiritual giants" (that get on my last nerve)--you know, the ones that can never understand what it means to struggle in this walk with our Lord--then you will identify with me. If King David wrote chapters and chapters about his highs and lows, then why can't we in the Body of Christ just be real with one another? Everyone is saying, "Oh yes, Praise Jesus, all is well..." and meanwhile, like the Shulamite woman, they have something dead they are carrying around---seeking for the ONLY ONE that can help--the Lord.





I consider myself to be a strong warrior for the Lord, but if you're gonna fight, just like in my street days, you best be sure you're enemy will rise up and come after you. I know this far too well. Does it make me a punk? A weak woman of God? An inconsistent sister in the faith? No. It makes me lay flat out on the floor with my face to the ground to a God that can help. I hesitate to tell certain sisters/brothers that I am struggling. Far too often they want to toss a scripture my way, or give me a cliche "God is in control." As if I DONT KNOW THIS???? How about a simple, "Sis, I understand. I totally understand."




You see, I have a BIG problem with those that always seem to be on a cloud somewhere up in cloud city. You have not been tested nor tried by fire to the point of humility. The burnings of the flesh will make us hurt when others hurt. More so, if a strong person is feeling weak and defeated, those of us that have had our knees knocked out in a battle will recognize that ONLY Christ has the power to raise a warrior back up. He responds to what? Our criticisms of that soldier down? Our self-righteous pride of that soldier's condition? No. CHRIST responds to prayers from a heart of deep compassion and love.




Last week, I got on my knees to pray for a sister. All I could do was cry. My children were there crying with me. Yes, I see perhaps why I may think she is being attacked...but my heart would not let me condemn her. Why? Because I HAVE BEEN TRIED BY THE FIRES OF AFFLICTION. I have laid in my bed for days not wanting to face anyone or anything..and only the PRAYERS OF TRUE WARRIORS THAT HAVE WALKED MY PATH got me revived again. When I cried for this sister, the pains were so astounding in my heart and my belly (the place where the spirit of God is felt when His anointing falls upon me) that I was doubled over, wracked with grief, asking God, "Will you not revive her again Lord, will you not revive her again my Lord???" I was battling unseen forces for this sister...as she has grown weary and wants completely out of a situation.



Brothers and sisters, pray that we would always pray "right" in the eyes of God. Pray that we would be humbled, due to our own afflictions we have gone through, and pray with a heart that says, "But for the grace of God, there I go." Let us pray with FIRE and LOVE for each other, the same power that conquered the grave lives in us. Let it come forth in our prayers. Let us say less. Let us cry more. Let us pray with power.





In Christ,



Sis Anna B.