Rejuvenation not Compensation

Caprock Canyon State Park Photo by Sherry Childers

My grandson Kaden and I were riding bikes the other day and as we rode past a house, I noticed on the front of the house a homemade ADA ramp providing access to the residence by someone that was limited by their current circumstance.  When we rode on by, the LORD laid it on my heart that as believers we are called to rejuvenate, not compensate.  As with many times, I asked the LORD for His discernment and as I continued listening, He went on to explain that in some circumstances believers in Christ find ourselves listening to and even worse, sometimes believing the negativity and condemnation of this world.  We can find ourselves believing everything that has been spoken or implied over us or our families opening the door for ailments, curses, financial shortfalls, or whatever this fallen world brings our way at that time. 

Please note, I am not referring to physical or mental limitations that have life altering effects or create environments where a person needs assistance or support.  There are times and circumstances that occur and require medical, physical or mental support to either get through or sustain people for a period or a life time.  We can list many individuals that live in God’s blessings even though they may inhabit a country that suppresses Christianity or maybe that individual was born or has become limited with a physical ailment and despite God’s measure of faith within their hearts, their circumstance has not changed.  In those times I do believe God allows certain circumstances that a person’s life might bring glory to God and His Kingdom. 

Let’s look at the example within John 9.  Jesus heals a blind man, and the disciples ask if it was this man or his parents that sinned causing his blindness.  Jesus answers by stating neither the man nor his parents, but rather he was born blind that God may manifest within him.  This is an example of the natural and supernatural.  This man was born blind and had lived to be old enough to be referred to as “of age” and was recognized by many as being a frequent beggar on the streets.  In the natural, his blindness and poverty were well known by the community.  Where I would like us to focus is on the supernatural.  I am not asking that we disregard the natural, but as new creations in Christ Romans 8 tells us we have been conformed through Christ in the Spirit living as over-comers and conquerors.  That should lift our eyes from what we see to what we believe and that is where faith elevates a believer from the natural to supernatural. 

As we dive a little deeper into this study, I also want to touch briefly on the sovereignty of God and His will for our lives.  God’s desire is that we live an abundantly blessed and whole life.   A life filled with His glory, bringing the things of heaven to this earth.  To do that we can not walk around discouraged, in despair, beaten down and downtrodden.  This is where in some instances believers may have the tendency to accept the false narratives of this world by believing their current negative circumstance is from God and in His will.  God’s desire, His will is that we live in righteousness which is in right standing with Him.  In that righteousness we were created to live in His Peace, blessings, well being and favor.  In most cases when a negative circumstance comes against a believer, and their family or community, it is not God’s will but instead a result of this fallen world.  The current environment we live in is due to Adam and Eve’s fall from Grace.  The fallen world we live in is counterintuitive to God’s supernatural realm of wholeness and well being.  This world resembles a South American jungle, it can be beautiful, but more likely than not something wants to eat you for lunch!  1 Peter 5:8 says it best, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 

As we continue to work through this message, I want you as a believer to keep in mind that the scenarios I am referring to relate to circumstances confronted in Christ’s authority based upon His name which we have physical and spiritual authority to overcome in the supernatural.  That is when the message became clear to me, what areas in my life have I accommodated because they are painful or uncomfortable and how would my life be better if through the supernatural authority in the name of Jesus I overcame and conquered those areas?  This ties back to the title the LORD gave me on that bike ride.  As believers in Christ walking out our God given dominion over the things of this earth, what do we need to rejuvenate and overcome rather than accommodate and perpetually allow to deteriorate? 

Let’s look at a couple of examples, one physical and one spiritual.  The body is made in God’s perfection to operate and function uniformly if taken care of and exercised.  When you look at a joint like a knee, hip or shoulder, how many times does a person with soreness or aches in that area begin to favor the sensitive joint and soon start to realize soreness and lack of mobility not only in that area, but also in the other joints and parts of the body that support that area.  So you started with a bad hip, now through altering your walk to accommodate the soreness in your hip your back begins to give you trouble.  Once your back discs become inflamed and agitated then other parts of your body begin to be affected and before you know it, you are using walking assistance or other means to manage the pain that started with an original issue that could have been addressed through exercise, physical therapy or in some instances surgery.    

This can also go for your spiritual growth and receptivity.  Matthew 6:14-15 tells us, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others of their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”  Unforgiveness not released but rather harbored can create strongholds and areas of resentment, anger and bitterness in your heart.  Think of it is as a sticker in your finger.  If you do not remove the sticker, your body begins to encapsulate the sticker so that it does not affect or harm the rest of the body.  That is the same with your heart, if you allow a lack of forgiveness to be kept in your heart, then your heart becomes callous to the things of God and your entire body begins to suffer from the adverse affects of the toxicity of this stronghold. 

The sad thing about an inner stronghold is if they are not identified for what they are, a person can begin to accommodate this lack of connectivity with God through service or religiosity.  When a person’s heart becomes calloused blocking God’s connectivity, then they may be misguided to believe they can work their way into a better light with God through physical rather than spiritual means.  This looks something like, I can not hear from God so I will spend more time at church in the children’s ministry or serving on Sundays rather than in prayer and the study of God’s Word seeking His discernment to identify the root of what is causing this divide.  If you begin relying on the physical, then you begin relying on the affirmations and confirmations of others which eventually leads to disappointment as reliance on others can not be the main source.  People are people and people will fail.  If your hope is in people, then your confidence in the LORD is dependent on the failures of others.  Many times you can identify an individual with an underlying stronghold as they tend to be easily offended and jump from church to church seeking external affirmation.

All that said to lead to the point and intent of this message.  As creations in God’s image, we were made to be resilient and long-suffering as over comers and conquerors of the challenges of our days.  This requires that we be on our game and in good standing with God.  Our resilience that can only be found in Christ, is only strong and not hindered when connected to God through Jesus Christ.  It is in our direct connection with God that He is able to expose an area within our lives that we have accommodated and not faced and rejuvenated in His presence through prayer and the study of His Word.  This can be past physical, emotional or spiritual hurts which have not been addressed and now have turned into a dependency or life accommodation that requires constant affirmation or uplifting by others.  In Christ, our lives should be lived in hope, clutter free, carrying forward today and leaving behind yesterday through the fruitful lifestyle found in God’s Truth. 

Being rejuvenated daily through God’s Word and intimate time in prayer with Him allows for Holy Spirit to work in our lives rejuvenating our spirits in righteousness with God and His ultimate will of success and dominion for our lives.  I pray this message has allowed you to dig deep and if needed brought light to areas that require God’s counsel and healing that you may walk forward in the full confidence of God in His blessings and favor!

May your hearts be released from the bondage of this world and transformed into the resilient manifestation of God’s glory living through you!  Shalom!!!