Christ Above Circumstance

Hello again! (It's Jana Dover) As I read your comments from my last post, I was elated to know why I felt led to share that with you all! God is so good! Sweet Mary has invited me to this party once again and to be honest with you, I kinda like the company here :) It's a difficult task for myself (major control issues) to know that I NEED to write something by a certain deadline, and yet wait on God to lead me. But my faithful Father didn't waste too much time this go-round, so, here we go!

Everyone has those moments when something is said that makes a light bulb go off. Maybe a sermon, maybe a song, maybe a conversation, or maybe just a word. Several months ago, our worship leader made an incredible statement that I will never forget. She said "Don't allow your problems to be exalted above what Jesus did on the cross." Wow. I believe it was this statement that led me to a thought that I will forever use in prayer...a thought that has since then become my personal family motto. It is this. "I will not allow what Jesus did on the cross to be done in vain." I will squeeze every ounce of Jesus' blood into every circumstance that life throws my way-it's too precious to waste. To fully understand this thought, you have to understand what his death (and resurrection) brings us! Look into his word! Sure, your first thought is salvation, but dig deeper than that. The word says that "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) Jesus' death was not just for us to have eternity in our hands. It was so that we could triumph over the devil in every area of life! He died for our sins. He died for our sicknesses. He died for our peace. He died for our health. And that's just from ONE scripture! He died to give us the power we need in every situation in life! And the word confirms this over and over again! He didn't have to, he CHOSE to. That brings up a whole notha' topic that I am certain will get me off track, so I'll stay here :)

Let's just look at one thing we are ALL experiencing this season: What do you do when sickness rolls through your family? Do you disrespect what he did for us (and wallow in your pathetic pity party) or do you exalt the cross above that sickness? Do you speak his word over your sickness? Do you get mad at the one who is attacking you? I can't tell you how many times I tell the devil, "What Jesus did will not be overlooked in our home!" I refuse to exalt life's problems above his crucifixion anymore. I've spent too much of my life acting as though his death didn't even happen! I know that we don't do it intentionally, but it's time that we exalt God's word over our own problems. "God, I don't care what my body is telling me...your word says that I am healed!" "I don't care what my situation says, your word says... _______." (you fill in the blank!) I am typing this passionately as my husband has just been diagnosed with the flu, my 9 month old has a runny nose...possible beginnings of the flu, and my soon-to-be-30 year old 'temple' is feeling some flu-like body aches. I'm not a naive believer that denies life's problems but I'll be darned if I'm going down without a true fight for my King and what HE did! The truth is, I expect health and healing to flow through my household because I believe what God's word tells me more than what my circumstance tells me. God wouldn't ask of us "in all things give thanks" (1 Thessalonians 5:18) if we didn't have a cross to exalt above every situation that life (and that petty devil) throws our way. His blood is too precious to waste. Use it.