From Dismal to Destiny

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WRESTLING
One morning around the middle of this month, I woke up wrestling with an unwanted feeling in my soul. I asked Holy Spirit to help me identify it, and I heard the word “dismal.” I looked up the definition (because that’s what wordsmiths do). Dismal: 1) gloomy; dreary; cheerless; melancholy; 2) characterized by ineptness or lack of skill, competence, effectiveness, imagination or interest; pitiful.

Both definitions fit.

The dismal feeling didn’t lift, even though I know the Joy of the Lord lives in me, strong and valiant. Was my soul at odds with itself? Then I realized this might not even be about me (I have my slow moments), but God might be speaking to me regarding the “state of the union” so that I would pray. The term dismal is not in the NKJV Bible, but the word gloom is mentioned often. The gloom that has fallen over the nation is so heavy and burdensome, and it seems to hit in waves. The last wave hitting me on Christmas LINK.

I prayed, “Lord we are desperate for You to make Your move, to inhabit, to intervene, to … to …” I pressed in deeper for what my spirit was trying to say. “To cleanse us.”

CLEANSE US
From complacency. From double-mindedness. From anxiety. From complaining and grumbling. From doing His will our way, rather than doing His will His way. Doing anything His way will cancel our dismal ineptness (see definition at top).

Yesterday’s insights are not applicable for today’s solutions. Don’t know about you, but I need fresh insight into His heart and His word. Oh, the effect we could have on our circle of influence if we fully embraced His will His way and acted upon it. Here’s one piece of fresh strategy to meditate on:

“Rejoice! I’ll say it again, rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to ALL men. for the Lord is near.” Philippians 4:4-5

A manifestation of His gentleness in us will overcome the gloom overtaking those around us. But do you first need a personal revelation of His gentleness? Without that revelation deep in our hearts, we’ll only operate out of the flesh—according to the letter of the law instead of the spirit of it.

Just ask our generous God, and He will supply all the gentleness you’re willing to receive.

TAKING ACTION
Jesus said, “Pray in this way, Father in heaven…Your kingdom come, Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10

What part of that prayer was negative or assaulting? Not one word. Yet social media is full of posts by believers that “fight fire with fire” and demand “a tooth for a tooth,” and, well, it’s just plain ugly. 

Do we spend too much time praying against things we don’t like rather than overcoming evil with Good? Prayerfully calling heaven to earth is not an act against something, but a movement for Something. And that Something that’s inside me is stronger than that something that’s in the world. 1 John 4:4

Overcome evil with good. Is there anything “Gooder” than heaven? I think not.

WE’VE GOT PURPOSE!
You and I are here this year and for this hour, to testify in word and by example of God’s saving love. To be ambassadors of His goodness and His gentleness.

Have you experienced His gentleness?

Be brave!
Become a vessel of His gentleness
to a world that’s cold, harsh, and violent.

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The Prayers of an Embattled Spirit