Devotional for January 2, 2009
The LORD will go ahead of you and lead you Isaiah 52:12 (NIV).
I am going there to prepare a place for you. John14:2 (NIV).
Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains. Isaiah 53:4 (NIV).
The LORD will fight for you. Just be still. Exodus 14:14 (NIV). *
“You go before me, prepare the way, carry and fight for me.”
This story may seem silly insignificant! I was fighting for my balance emotionally, physically, and spiritually. The year before I had fought my way through a broken ankle that had triggered a severely painful lupus flare.
I had to crawl to the bathroom, up and down the stairs to get something to eat, and put out my dog, Beamer. I was unable to use my crutches due to carpal tunnel, inflamed lungs and ribcage. I prayed to the Lord to let this pass from me– I didn’t think I could make it.
In a couple of months I took my licensing exam to be a Licensed Professional Counselor, my youngest son got married, and world events played out before me with massive loss of life–the bombing of the Denver Federal Office Building, the crash of plane full of people died in a senseless crash.
I cried out to the Lord, “Why have I been spared,” feeling like my life was useless. The Lord lit a fire under me. I was determined to make the gift of my life count.
I changed churches, became a Stephen Minister, and immersed myself in teaching divorce recovery workshops and leading support groups. After church one night, my beloved Beamer hemorrhaged out in my arms in 3 hours at the vets.
My tears showered down on him! Beamer’s death seemed more than I could bear. I walked through the house and screamed his name–”BEAMER where are you?” The Lord gave me the combination breath prayer– “You go before, prepare The Way, carry, and fight for me!”
That breath prayer got me through this time, led me to LB (Little Beamer), – little baby, little boy, little brat, etc. The breath prayer has become the sword of the Lord to fight many other battles of life!
* Breath Prayer- Take a scriptural promise, turn it into a seven syllable affirmation give or take a few, in present tense and second person, and say it on the perfect breath (in to a count of 3 out of a count to a count of 6) as you breathe out.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kathleen S. Lewis, RN, MS, PC, MP: has lived with SLE and many other rheumatic diseases for 32 years; is the author of CELEBRATE LIFE– NEW ATTITUDES FOR LIVING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS and PRAYER WITHOUT CEASING– BREATH PRAYERS; runs a counseling ministry, Celebrate Life, by phone; is a Stephen minister; has 2 sons and 4 magical grandchildren; resides in Marietta, GA. with LB, the best Peek-a-Poo ever; and knows “In my weakness is Your strength.” Check out and meet me for a chat at http://www.letscelebratelife.com.
