Survival Mode

Photo by Kristopher Roller

Over the past several years, I have had a series of circumstances that kept me in a seemingly never-ending funnel of turmoil.  Divorce, illness, long seasons of mediocre jobs, and unemployment and single parenting came together in a whirlwind of chaos and destruction. My days have been filled with putting out fires, but never gaining any real ground. My daily mantra has been, If I can get through one more day, take one more step, pay one more payment, work one more hour, we will be okay. Survival mode.

Over the past few months, I have had an idea formulating in my spirit that will quite possibly set my little family on the path from a place of merely surviving to a thriving existence. Early one morning, I was mentally rehearsing the bullet points of my plan and prayerfully explaining why these changes will work, why they are necessary, and why they need to happen now when a little nugget was dropped into my spirit. The church has been in the same place. Survival mode.

The body of Christ has become complacent. If I can just go to one more church service, pray one more prayer, endure one more fast maybe I will be okay. We were not created for a life of survival. We were made to thrive. However, we cannot go forward in our natural life until we take a step forward in our spiritual life by making the necessary changes in our prayer life, in our giving, in our way of living. When we begin to thrive in the spirit, that cup will overflow into our natural life, and we will begin to see things change. We will "prosper in all things and be in health, just as our soul prospers." (3 John 1:2)

It is time to stop praying pretty prayers over ugly situations and begin to make war in the Heavenlies. Take up your shield of faith, your shield of victory, and your shield of favor, and march forward out of your desert place, and into your Promised Land. Take back your life!

The passage below so encouraged me this morning and it is my prayer for you today!

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May He send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
May He remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. Selah.
May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

We will shout for joy when you are victorious and we will lift up banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.

Psalm 20:1-5

Be it unto you, my friend, and be it unto me!