A couple of years ago I had knee replacement surgery. While I have regained most of the ability in my leg, I have realistic expectations of my limitations and try not to push too hard. So I was a little surprised when I found myself trying to use that leg to help a friend from dropping a box she was carrying the other day. In that instant I was not sure what shocked me more, the fact that I was using my leg in a way I normally would have avoided or the fact that it was NOT doing what I was expecting it to do! I had to quickly pivot to not end up on the floor along with the box! I guess in the back of my mind I always thought that if push came to shove, my knee would still be able to come through. Clearly that’s not the case!
How often do we take things like that for granted in other areas of our lives? We expect to maintain muscle tone without exercise. We want to acquire knowledge without studying and being teachable. We hope to climb the corporate ladder without investing the time and effort to pay our dues. Not to mention things like having faith during difficult times, forgiving others and extending grace to those who hurt us… the list goes on and on. None of these are possible unless we put them into practice regularly!
One way to strengthen our ability to do the things that don’t come naturally to us is by applying God’s word to the situation. Do you meditate on Scripture or simply read over a verse a time or two, hoping to recall it in a time of need? It’s only when we know WHAT God says about us that we will recall WHO we are and what He can do through us! God knows our tendency to want to take short cuts, so He provided some clear instruction for us to live by:
Deuteronomy 11:18-20 says “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates…”
We claim victory when we use God’s word to fight the enemy in His strength. But we can’t fight with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, if we don’t know what it says and have it in our arsenal. If we choose to be intentional and meditate on His word, we will claim every victory! But, if we don’t use it we WILL lose it!!
Be blessed,
Jennifer
Deuteronomy 11:18-20