Just a few days ago on Friday morning, I hurt my back. I was in an awkward position when I helped to move something fairly heavy at work. As soon as I lifted, I felt the pull and along with it a sharp pain. I was glad that I was able to continue on and to do so without anybody noticing, but I knew that I was in trouble. I chose to keep working and really wanted to make it through the day. With God's help, I was able to do it, but by the time I got home the pain was extremely intense. I was pretty uncomfortable throughout the weekend and there was nothing I could do to bring any relief.
I hate to go to the emergency room, but gave it some serious thought this time. The current season of life that I am in, however, finds no health insurance so I decided a few different times over the weekend that going really wasn't an option. I don't tell you that for sympathy. It's simply a season of life that I am in. God has sustained and I know He will continue to do so until this season passes. I am very content and at peace with where things are at in my life right now. I only say that because I can almost hear someone say, "Well, if your back was as bad as you say, why didn't you go to the doctor!!!!" (I sure hope that wasn't you! Ha ha)
Friday and Saturday nights didn't go well and any sleep was short lived. Saturday and Sunday were not fun days and even though I tried to get ready for church Sunday morning, I decided not to go. I'm sure that was a bad choice on my part. I know that my church family would have gladly laid hands on me and prayed over me for healing, but in the moment of it all I just wanted to lie back down. By Sunday night I wasn't sure how I could work on Monday (today as I write this) even though I really wanted to. Late at night however, after attempting to go to bed, I ended up doing something that I've been thinking a lot about; and have wondered why the light bulb didn't turn on in my head earlier in the weekend. I had made a few attempts to read my Bible and pray over the weekend, but found it really difficult to concentrate and could only be still to read for only a moment or two.
So here I was Sunday night wondering what I was going to do come Monday morning. It was then that I decided to get online and to listen to elijahstreams.com. Elijah Streams offers some pretty sweet prophetic and worship music. I was also thinking that the weekend had come and gone and time spent with the Lord had been pretty much absent. As I pulled up the stream and began to listen, I silently prayed, "Lord, I really haven't spent time with You this weekend. I kind of feel bad about that so I am asking that even should I be able to drift off to sleep that my spirit will continue to speak with You all night." Even though I also asked the Lord to heal me, I was thinking more as to how I had missed fellowship with Him and that was what I really needed. I started listening to the worship music and began to think about our amazing God. I remember hearing Keith Green, a beautiful song that I was sure was done by Kari Jobe and another worship band and................that was it. The next thing I knew it was around 3:30, I could hear some soft worship music and I thought of how I had been in a really deep and relaxing sleep. I thought about my request to the Lord and remember smiling. I also remember thinking that I barely noticed my back aching, but then went right back to sleep. I woke up again a little before 6:00 and was aware that Kay was about to leave for work. I wanted to go back to sleep, though, because I felt so relaxed and peaceful. It had been a good night indeed.
After sleeping another 45 minutes, I did get up and began to get ready for work. Even though I still felt sore, I knew my back was a great deal better and was pretty sure that I would be able to work what I knew was going to be a pretty long day. Even though I had to deal with some pretty heavy stuff and had to use my back much more than I wanted, I noticed that as the day progressed, my back was getting stronger. Even though I came home with still some soreness, it was very minor and I still can't stop thinking about God, the deep sleep that He put me in and the healing that He brought. The biggest thing though, is that I want the Lord to tell me what we were talking about last night. I know that my spirit man had to be worshiping and in fellowship with Him, even as I slept. This evening I feel the Holy Spirit has reminded me of some sweet scriptures, too. In the previous post to this one, "To See and Be Seen," I share a friends vision (as told by him) of his spirit being in the Lord's presence. I shared some of my own thoughts on this and referenced scripture from Ephesians, but tonight I am reminded of scripture from Colossians. As much as I love the New King James translation, I think for now it is best suited to share it with you in the New Living Translation:
"Since you have been raised to new life in Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD." (Colossians 3: 1-3) Make sure you also go back and read the Ephesians 2:6 passage.
Is it too much of a stretch for you to believe that there are times when the Father wants to welcome our spirit to visit with Him in the Kingdom realm? That maybe all we have to do is ask and desire such fellowship? If so, just think and pray about it. Search out the scripture. There was a time when I would have considered such a thought foolishness. Maybe even new age, but the more I study the scripture and investigate as to what Jesus really meant when He spoke of the Kingdom of God, it is not a stretch anymore. I believe that as I slept last night, my spirit found very intimate fellowship with Jesus and the Father. I know I am not the apostle Paul and I know that I haven't reached the level of faith that he operated in, but he spoke of being "caught up" into the heavens. (2 Corinthians 12: 2-4)
I think I am going to try to make even many more requests in letting the Lord know that I so desire to not only to fellowship with Him as the man He created, but also for my spirit to fellowship with Him............long after I fall asleep.
Sweet dreams, my dear friend,
Mark S.
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