You Can’t Slay What You Don’t See

This phrase came to me while praying for a dear sister. Sensing in my spirit, her past was colliding with the present, I sought Jesus.

you can’t slay what you don’t see

I passed it on, assuming she and God worked it out.

Yet, this phrase continued to beg at me. It’s the puppy who sits tall, twisting his whimper so it whines while you try to enjoy steak.

Only I am not eating steak.

I am preparing to speak this weekend. Today, I made a half-hearted deal with myself to withhold from blogging until next week.

you can’t slay what you don’t see

Would you tiptoe with me into the Garden of Eden? Where life was exceedingly perfect, where the first man and woman had every need fulfilled by a direct relationship with Our Almighty God. Loving Him first and only in those circumstances would have been easy.

That’s what we tell ourselves.

After Eve partook in the decadent delight which included fruit and that prideful, devious spirit who enjoyed rebellion …

Then of course, she invited Adam in on the debauchery.

All this time, they were both naked and were totally ok with it until … “then the eyes of both of them were opened” (Genesis 3:7).

Opened by whom?

Our Maker who looks for us to stand in His light and see our wrongs, our failings.

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day …” (Genesis 3:8).

Can you just hear that glorious sound of Your Holy Father so near, coming to see you?

“… and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden …” (Genesis 3:9).

And we learn here, right in the beginning, there is no physical, spiritual, emotional way to ever hide from our omnipotent God.

“He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked so I hid’ “(Genesis 3:10).

Our Father in Heaven, even though He knew who had tempted and meddled in His kingdom, asked his son, “Who told that you were naked?” (Genesis 3:11).

Friends, naked was not designed to vulnerable. Naked, completely free and open, was designed to be the way we keep in perfect relationship with God.

After Adam and Eve sinned, their nakedness was out of place tainted by their pride in seeking another way besides God to fulfill their needs.

you can’t slay what you don’t see

It is only when we strip naked before Jesus that we are changed. His light knows all things from the beginning of time, including your heart in its most broken state.

Any heart separated from God is a tragedy in Heaven.

It is why He pursues us in the dark, in the mess, in the garden that was perfect until …

Over the last couple weeks, Jesus in His ever loving kindness showed me how when I obeyed Him and stopped drinking 4.5 years ago, I replaced alcohol with friends, relationships.

Oh how many times I prayed for friends!

How many times I lamented not having many people in my life who knew me for me?

Jesus called me from hiding, from my whining.

In loving whispers, Jesus gave me a poem to show me what was deep inside my soul.

He opened my eyes to see where I was seeking fulfillment.

I didn’t know I had sinned. I wasn’t aware of my divided heart.

I pray you will read this testimony and believe I felt no shame as Jesus bared my soul, the contents of which He knew and I did not.

Unlike Adam, I was not afraid to be naked before Our Lord. I trusted Jesus because I have seen and tasted His faithfulness. I believe when He corrects me it is in love, it is for a greater purpose. Being one with Jesus is the greatest purpose of all.

As you listen to Jesus and His Spirit who will point out areas of your life that need surrendered or tossed in the fire … Brothers and sisters, cling to the very real hope He created you to be naked (anything in our heart is fair game), free of any condemnation, and open and fully available for a personal relationship with Jesus.

“A warning that needs to be repeated is that ‘the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches’ and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us. We are never free from the recurring waves of invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest).

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All photos in this post are from Pixabay.

Any thoughts? Any concerns? Feel free to start a conversation in the comments.

Join me today at 2pm Eastern time for a time of praise https://Facebook.com/jdibble4Him

A new poem is up at https://faithhopeandpoetry.blog

And if you are available to pray for me, I would so appreciate prayers to hear His highest message as I prepare to speak this coming Sunday.

May God bless you on this wonder-full given day.

In Christ,

Julie