Day 18: laying them down…

Day 18: 14 May 2018

Introduction: Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship exercise – This is a GREAT video.

 SONG: NEEDTOBREATHE – Lay ‘Em Down (Video)

“Come down to the river
Come and let yourself in
Make good on a promise
To never hurt again
If you’re lost and lonely
Broken down
Bring all of your troubles
Come lay ’em down

All you sinners 
And the weak at heart
All the helpless
On the boulevards
Wherever you are now
Whatever evil you’ve found
Bring all of your troubles
Come lay ’em down

We’re all tied to the same old failings
Finding shelter in things we know
We’re all dirty like corrupted small towns
We’ll bring our troubles
Bring our troubles
And lay ’em down

All you rich men
And the high above
All of those with
And without love
All you burdened
And broken down
Bring all of your troubles

Come all you broken
Come all you helpless
Bring all your burdens
Come all you broken
Come all you helpless
Bring all your troubles
Come lay ’em down”

Songwriters: Nathaniel Rinehart / William Rinehart

Lay ‘Em Down lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

“Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.” ~ Matthew 15:30 NIV

Step 1: Gather

Dang, have I had enough practice of “lay ‘em down.” Over and over and over again. At some point it is time to get my feet wet, again, and see where this takes me.

I think about how you died for our sins, Lord. I think about the gratitude I have for such an act that I do not have the capacity to fully absorb. Yet, your purpose did not stop there. You did not lay down and not get back up again. You rose. You got up and went on about your purpose. Because you rose – not only laid down for us – but ROSE for us, we too have that ability, with your power. You have always lived, continue to live and will always live.

“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.” ~ John 10:17 NIV

As I lay down my troubles at your feet, you provide the freedom to get up and move on. Not away from you but with you. It is a WALK with you, even when you have to carry me sometimes.

You are the perfect example of getting up and on with it, instead of laying down in the grave for good.

I have walked through so much “death” and it is time to lay it all at your feet, bow to you, worship you, then RISE and walk this out, with you. Movement, forward movement, no matter what shape my feet are in. It is okay to feel like so many things are out of reach and I need to be on my tippy toes to try to see where you are taking me. But do it, get up, get on tippy toes, take a peek and get to walking this out.

Even seasons were created to provide change, movement through time, dying off of old things and the growth of new and beautiful things. I have experienced the seasons of chronic illness. I have experienced the seasons of many things.

Winter has had its time and its grip on me. It has forced me to cool my heels and let you do your work in me. Winter comes with a time of extreme isolation. That is now slowly lifting as your light melts the hardness of it.

Let’s get this winter season behind me. Let me see the new growth of Spring and the warmth and glow of summer.

The experience of chronic illness and healing has blessed me in abundance like no other. The worse of that season of my life has helped me to crawl in the grave, consider staying, choosing life and fighting for it with all my might, yours too. Time to walk out of the grave, the death, the yuck and the muck. Move forward like I have never had the ability to before.

You have more than shown me that your word is good. When you make a promise, you mean it, you play it out, every time.

Step 2: Focused Reflection

Yep, I did have a toxic thought today and just now as I was writing the above. But… I cannot even mop my own floors yet. How can I get from A to Z when I am still recovering from the emergency and all that surrounds that? How can I do this while steeped in abandonment? “Yeah but…” should never have been allowed in the English language. It is toxic all by itself.

When I said that to a sweet lady today, and as the conversation continued, I did notice that I went on to say – I have never been at a better place with myself or my relationship with Jesus. It has taken all of this to get me here. It feels like the limitations are a joke to the King of Kings.

Keep walking this out…

Step 3: Journal

My conversation is very slowly catching up with my intent. I can write how I feel better than I can speak it. As my heart is healing from the physical and the abandonment issues, I am slowly hearing it in my speech. If I cannot get to a place where I feel it, say it and live it then there really is no point to all of this.

Walking this out…

 

This is where the feet matter, where the rubber meets the road. Can I walk this out in my everyday life? Has the power of the toxic thought been destroyed enough to make a real difference in my walk with you Lord. If I do not reflect you, then what is the point? Keep me on your path. Allow the experiences of life to keep me running to your word and your throne.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet,a light on my path.”  ~ Psalms 119:105 NIV

Step 4: Revisit

Holy Spirit, what do you want to reveal to me?

Yes, I so clearly hear you on this one. You have moved heaven and earth to get me back on track, your path. You did it with tender love. You also know that it has come with a renewed strength to get up and walk this out.

Step 5: Active Reach

Decision:

I am worthy of this miracle, because you live in me. You got up out of the grave to live in us and through us. You are not dead, and neither am I. Life is coming back to life, time to walk it out.  

Action:

Walk out the next step of this journey with a feeling of worthiness.

• A shower is an example of what I am talking about. I am worthy of enough health to get through the shower and feel clean.
• Stop and chit chat with anyone who gives me the time of day. I am worthy of those conversations and so are they.
• Being focused is a source of worthiness. I am worthy of focusing on my health, my spiritual growth, time of rest and restoration.
• Imagination is another source of worthiness. In their image I was created. Through my imagination I can envision worthiness beyond immediate surroundings.

Feel worthy, not abandoned!!

May ALL of you feel worthy, because of Jesus Christ,

Maribeth Baxter, MBNC (Certified Mind-Body Nourishment Coach)

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