Through the Narrow Gate
Title: You Can't Stop Me!
by Deb Nelson
You Can't Stop Me!
Last Saturday, I attended a conference sponsored by Women of
God. The theme was “In His Presence”. I was within minutes of walking out
the door when something happened--my power went out! I checked the circuit
breaker box and it was okay, I looked outside to see if my neighbor’s had
power, but I couldn’t tell.
I went to the car to leave and I couldn’t--the
garage has an automatic door. I remembered if I pulled the red handle that
was hanging down I could manually open the door. I pulled the handle, it
disengaged, I tried to pull the door up and it wouldn’t budge. I tried and
tried and tried! Finally, I went in the house and called the Power Company
to see if they knew about the outage. They knew and said it would be back
on sometime between 9:00 and Noon! I found myself sitting down and starting
to tell myself I would just get comfortable and stay home. Then it came
to me that the last thing the enemy wanted me to do was to go to this event!
I figured it was going to be great. I decided nothing was going to keep
me from going. I sat down, prayed and started to read my Bible, I was going
to get filled with the Word and ready for my day. By 9:05 a.m. the power
was on and I was on my way.
I wasn’t very late, worship had just finished.
They asked us to introduce ourselves to someone near us. I told the lady
I spoke with that I was expecting great and wonderful things from God. I
knew something awesome was going to happen and that’s why Satan tried so
hard to get me discouraged.
I was right, the conference was really terrific!
I learned so much and I was so blessed by the worship and the other women.
It was a wonderful day. The speakers were really good; one was a Pastor
and a psychotherapist. She spoke mostly about the different coping skills
and emotions that are developed by people who have been abused. She believes
healing ultimately occurs through strengthening the spirit, a deepening
relationship with God and healing the soul. We learned contemplative prayer,
which I found to be really helpful. Contemplative prayer is when we place
ourselves as the “main character” in a Bible story. I stretched out on the
pew and closed my eyes as she read a Bible story. She asked us at different
times how we felt, what things looked like, etc. It was a healing thing
to do. I believe we’re most open to the Holy Spirit and His work in us when
we are creative.
I was reminded how important it is to just sit with Jesus. Since then,
I have made it a deliberate action in my day, to spend quiet time with Him.
He’s my best friend and I find myself throughout the day talking with Him.
He goes to work with me, grocery shopping, walking, to coffee and lunch.
He goes everywhere with me. I look forward all day to spending quality
alone time with Jesus, I am excited and eagerly anticipating my time with
Him. I know and I’m aware of Jesus with me throughout the day, because
I have set my mind to be. I’ve asked Jesus to help me to be aware and I’m
changing already.
I know spending time with Jesus is not just a feeling,
it is a state of my soul, and it transforms me. In His presence I am changed,
my soul is refreshed and my heart is softened. Little by little, day by
day, I develop the mind, heart and attitude of Jesus. I will start to manifest
more and more compassion, love and humbleness, all the fruits of the Spirit
will be developed in me. I have learned prayer isn’t always talking, thinking
or even trying to listen, prayer can be just being open to receive whatever
it is Jesus has for me. There are times He brings things up and we walk
through the memory or issue together, that’s how healing happens. There
are not words to describe the presence of Jesus, or the transformation He
does in my soul.
“He must increase, but I must decrease. (He must
grow more prominent; I must grow less so.)” John 3:30
I finally got the
meaning of this Scripture, and it is so easy! I don’t know why I had such
trouble with it. I’ve tried for most of my Christian life to do the things
I thought I was supposed to do. For instance: crucify my flesh, seek God’s
will, show the fruits of the Spirit, resist the devil, etc. When what I
need is to spend time with Jesus. The Holy Spirit impressed upon me this
illustration: if I have a glass with dirty water in it and I pour in fresh
clean water and continue to pour water in the glass until it overflows;
and I pour still more water in it, more and more and more...eventually;
the glass has NO dirty water in it, JUST clean water!
“Let this same
attitude and purpose and (humble) mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus”
Philippians 2:5
“(Not in your own strength) for it is God who is all the while effectually
at work in you (energizing and creating in you the power and desire) both
to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.”
Philippians 2:13
All I need to do is focus on filling myself full of
Him, not removing the undesirable traits that are in me. The undesirable
will go when I am continually filled with Jesus. He will never leave me
or forsake me, He will not quit-He will continue to transform me and finish
the work He started in me. All I have to do is cooperate!
© Deb Nelson 2001
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