I've
been on the job hunting saga lately and as everything else in my life
I had a strange "interview." It was for a therapist we will
call Terry that uses sensory play with her kids. She was a super nice
lady and I love what she's doing so I was happy to send my resume and
set up a meeting. I arrived at the agreed time and began a tour of
the office including the sloth room. Yes I said sloth room.
This
room is for those occasions you're having trouble getting settled and
just need a chill moment. There were 3 large stuffed sloths and a
small tent in the room with low lighting. I think this kind of room
should be required in offices all across America.
Our
conversation went from therapy to Jesus within minutes which didn't
surprise me as He is the best mental and physical physician I know.
As we were talking children began coming in and Terry motioned me
into the room they were entering. Before I knew it I was in a yoga
class with an intern and 3 boys around 10 years old.
As
I was lying on the floor I was thinking how glad I was I wore stretch
jeans and not the skirt I had originally planned on. At one point
after stretching and bending in unnatural positions
I
realigned myself and began laughing under my breath as I pictured
myself in downward dog wondering how I went from a dignified
interview to bending in half. I don't know how these things
happen to me but I knew it was a jewel in the making.
Class
was over and I said goodbye to my new friends not knowing what the
actual job was, the hours or the pay. I did however have “yoga”
to add to my already
interesting resume.
Needless
to say I did not get that job or any I had applied for because God
had other plans. He politely told me if I was done “helping” Him
He would appreciate it if I would just wait for my next assignment.
You
see I was making all this a spiritual thing. I prayed and fasted. I repented
and sought counsel as I assumed I was doing something wrong or
missing something and that's why I wasn't finding employment. I found
myself convinced there was some great fight of good and evil over me
and I was losing the fight.
In
reality just a few weeks later the Lord showed me I was leaving town
for a while and that's why I didn't get a job. He didn't want me to
make a commitment I couldn't keep.
The
truth is, if I go deeper, the real fight was I forgot who I was.
“It
does take some humility, but when you agree to get out of the way,
and stop assuming you already have the answers on everything of
spiritual nature, and stop scheming, plotting, and planning how to
make life happen for yourself, then something marvelous begins to
occur. Life begins to unfold right before your eyes, without you
doing anything. That unfoldment is the Lord God Himself, living the
life which He is, but He is living it in you and through you”
Michael
Stepakoff One God
I
think sometimes we, I, forget that God himself is living inside of
us. We forget who we are and whose power we are tapped into.If we
allow God to unfold things in His timing and learn the lessons He has
for us right where we are we will stay in perfect peace.
Years
ago when my now 15 year old grandson Anthony was about 3 and just
tall enough to open the front door of his home I was worried he would
open it up for a stranger. I decided to train him on door opening
safety. For about 2 weeks I would knock on the door and as I heard
his hand trying to open it I would yell remember ask, who is it.
One
day I thought I would test our efforts and showed up unannounced. I
knocked on the door and could could hear his little feet running
toward me. I saw the handle start to turn so I grabbed it and said in
a low voice he would not recognize “say who is it” to which he
replied “hold on Nana.” I repeated in my man like tone “it's
not Nana say who is it” to which he again replied “hold on Nana.”
A third time I said “it's not Nana say who is it.”
As
his tiny hands were trying desperately to open the door I was firmly
holding shut, I heard his dad ask him “whose at the door?” To
which he wisely replied, It's Nana but she don't know who she is.”
Hmmmmmm
Ephesians
6:11 Put on the WHOLE armour of God, that you may be able to stand
against the wiles
of the devil.
(Wiles:
a trick or stratagem meant to fool, trap, or entice; device.
Deceitful
cunning; trickery.)
Now
Gems I know you may be thinking yea yea we have heard this a thousand
times
before but I don't think we pay enough attention to this verse.
Deception is the enemies greatest tool. If he can make us believe
something that isn't true, he wins.
Remember
satan is an angel that was created by God. Nothing is greater than
the creator.
Colossians
1:16 For
by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in
earth, visible and invisible, whether they
be thrones,
or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created
by him, and for him.
I
think we somehow believe or were taught that God is fighting with
satan. That somehow satan even has power to fight with God. He does
not! There is only One God who has all power and per God that
power, who is the Holy Spirit, lives in us.
Galatians
4:6
Because you are
sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts,
crying, "Abba! Father!"
When
Jesus said we have to die to self I used to think it meant being
selfless you know putting others first but I think it also means
dying to human self, our human mind. What I mean is dying to the
thought that we are just humans. It's when we see ourselves as just
human we allow the lies the enemy tells us to take us out. We start
believing the lies he's telling us about ourselves and our situation.
Fear begins to rule in us.
Now
some fear is valuable, it can make us slow down and be more aware of
our surroundings. This is where renewing our mind comes in. Jesus
told us exactly how to combat and win these attacks of the enemy.
I
was telling myself I couldn't
get a job and then went on to tell myself all the reasons why. I'm
getting too old. I don't have a degree, I can't speak Spanish,
computers hate me.
Then
I renewed my mind. I prayed in the Spirit and acknowledged the power
of the God I serve. He has NEVER had a problem placing me right where
He wants me. He has never stopped providing all my needs and up until
the latest destination had not asked me to go anywhere else.
If
He wanted me working somewhere I would be. God was not fighting with satan to have a job open up for me and neither was I.
It
all sounds so easy yet we battle this same scenario almost daily.
So Gems I'm writing this jewel today to remind you that the battle is in our mind which is human we must fight with our spirit man.
I am Gena Duran/Nana I am one with my creator and I have the power of the Holy Spirit to stand against the wiles of the devil and so do you!
