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  Goodness!

GOD IS GOOD. 

 

God’s goodness has been with me today. It has been a constant companion and I have been blessed. Recently, I wrote of my own freedom that I found from the spirits of condemnation, guilt and shame. Now, I want to witness to God’s continued goodness in my own life and Dot’s as well.

Yesterday I walked into the kitchen because it was my turn for kitchen patrol. Dot’s face was a welcome site. It was the first time I had seen her that day because our morning walk was rained out due to the weather here in Australia’s wet season. As the day went on I could sense that Dot was unsettled. The presence in the kitchen was not one of peace or joy. I began to ask the Lord to show me what was going on. At one point Dot and I found ourselves in the kitchen alone. I began asking her questions.

It turns out that Dot herself, feels as if she has been living under the control of the spirits of condemnation, fear, guilt, doubt and shame. She talked of a long history of punishing herself. She spoke of times when she felt as though she still needed to earn God’s grace as if she wasn’t good enough to just receive it, but needed to prove to God through service that she was worthy. . .

The Lord began to lay it on my heart what needed to happen. I looked her right in the face and said, “Dot, do you believe that Christ’s death on the cross took all your shame, all your guilt and that you are forgiven by his grace?“ She said yes. I said, “Then today I want to pray for God to release you from these spirits that you’ve just told me you have been living under. Because the truth is, God desires your freedom. That is the very reason Christ died for you. You are worthy. Christ died for your while you were still a sinner. Your heart is his and therefore your desires are his and you do not need to feel guilty for them. You need to walk in freedom and stop punishing yourself because God has already taken on your punishment!“ And so we prayed in the Spirit. And Dot gained her freedom yesterday. Seriously, God deserves all glory, honor and praise!

This morning I woke up at 5:15a.m. to meet Dot for our morning walk. I was nervous it might get rained out again. The wind was fierce and the temperature had dropped as it always does before a good rain. But I prayed, “Lord, I know you control the elements. You’ve proved that in Jonah. And God, I know you hear our prayers, so please, hold back the rain until after our walk that I may talk with Dot again.“ And that is exactly what he did. He held back the rain until our walk was complete. While we walked we were able to talk about our time of prayer and what took place yesterday. She has claimed that she continues to walk in freedom from condemnation, shame and guilt! Praise the Lord!
 
But the super cool thing is, I don’t know if I would have recognized this in Dot’s life if I hadn’t already walked through it and been set free myself. I was completely blind to the effect of these spirits in my own life, how could I have recognized it in someone else?! Thank you Jesus, that not only do you desire wholeness and freedom for us, but you desire to use us as well to bring the very same thing to others!! How sweet is that?!