Remember

This morning I was reminded what it feels like to take a brutal jab to the body... Maybe not a takeout punch, but a damaging one, nonetheless.
I fought for breath and staggered down toward the mat.
'Not again,' I thought. And then this, "No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Noooooooo..."
I couldn't mutter anything else.

That was my cue not to.

I retreated to my room and quietly shut the door. My old friend, the bath tub was waiting to be filled and I needed to be alone to think and pray...to begin the healing process again. To come to terms with the news...
I actually started to review my own blog posts and REMEMBER how far God has brought me, and ALL He has taught me along the way... reminding me that each trial has been a stepping stone of remembrance for me to grow stronger and stronger...                                                       

'That was some jab you just took girlfriend, but you are not going down.' (My internal dialogue began)

Remembering is very important in the Bible. Frequently, God asks His people to remember important things He's done for them by holding ceremonies, celebrations or by marking the occasion in other ways. (See Joshua 4:1-11 and Luke 22:19)

So I did this. I remembered.

'You've been here before, Ann.'
'The Lord does not forsake His own..'
'He hasn't left you in your past trials.'
'Remember everything you've already been through.'

'You are not going down.'

In the mix, I heard the voice of my grandmother, "It's always safe to trust the Lord." Yes, grandma, it is. What a heritage...

My focus shifted. I REMEMBERED the Word of God. I began to speak to myself in Psalms and hymns of praise as the Scriptures tell us to do.
'The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures and He  leads me beside the still waters."
"The Name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are safe."
"Is anything too hard for the Lord?"
"My ways are not your ways."

'Clearly not, Lord.'
It was at this point I was able to ask God not to let me speak anything disrespectful.

My thoughts were too scattered to pray, so I put some music on. The lyrics were prayers set to melody and very helpful for my troubled heart. Through them, I could worship and praise the God Who holds the stars... The One Who sees me. I appreciate the music makers... Don't you? They're the ones who give voice to our joy and pain and set our emotions alive through song.

So, in 6 years, I've taken a lot of blows to the body that have left me breathless and reeling, but nothing has dealt me the final blow to my head. And by the grace of God, it won't. If you haven't realized that life is the world heavyweight championship fight, you haven't lived long enough...
'But I am not going down!'
Your prayers are always appreciated my friends...
Peace. xx