Galatians 5:13 Life-Giving Life Group

Step 1: Pray. Select.

I cannot pinpoint what shifted in my life from yesterday's blog until today. After many months of being met with opposition and challenges or wandering aimlessly in the wilderness trying to find my way home, at some point last night amongst the company of new friends, my church life group, chains seemed to fall off of me just by being in their powerful presence.

As I began my prayer time this morning, the words “power,” “liberation,” and “freedom” came to mind. As I researched relevant scriptures relating to those very poignant words placed in my thoughts by the Holy Spirit, I came across Galatians 5:13.

It was time to dive in, friends!

Step 2: Write. Read. Circle

After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out amongst the others:

Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Step 3: Re-Write

With a focus on the words I circled that stood out, here is the personalized sentence that came alive in my heart.

• Jennifer, for you have been called to liberty; through love serve.

If you are doing this alongside me today, make sure you add your name in front of your unique sentence so the Lord can speak directly to you.

Step 4: Visualize

As I meditated on the sentence derived from the scripture, I was taken back to a clear vision from the movie The Wizard of Oz. In particular, the scene where Dorothy and her friends just reached a point on the yellow brick road where the emerald city is in sight.

As she and her traveling buddies, the Lion, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Dog Toto, begin their final steps toward their goal, they encounter a field of poppies. As they step deeper into the field, the group starts to feel sleepy and eventually collapses from exhaustion, lying down shy of their final destination.

Sleepiness was an obstacle they did not anticipate, and they assumed they were just tired from their long journey, so they should take a well-deserved nap. In actuality, it was a trick, and they were deceived by the Wicked Witch of the West.

I am thankful the Holy Spirit brought this to my remembrance since this fully encompassed the way I have been feeling for the past couple of months. I have been slowly but surely losing steam, and eventually, I just want to lay down where I am and take a nap in isolation away from the world. But GOD! He had different plans. Plans, in my weakened state, I was not aware of.

As I fought my own internal battle of insecurity and rejection, which caused me to want to stay home instead of fellowship and enjoy the company of my fellow women of God last night, laughing, sharing, and talking about the goodness of God, Holy Spirit pushed me forward and made way for me to get amid their greatness so I was reminded of just how incredibly good God is.

I stop for a beat to ask a question about the vision the Holy Spirit brings to my mind, so I move to STEP 5.

Step 5: Ask. Seek

The question that came to mind is:

• Holy Spirit, how did Dorothy get tricked into falling asleep? How did she let her guard down when being hunted by the Wicked Witch of the West? How did she miss going from energetic dancing, easing on down a yellow brick road, to fully passed out asleep in a field pulled away from her path?

Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive

Here is the answer I received:

“Pay attention to your spirit. You have been living by the law, almost to the letter, but were not allowing the love of the spirit to fully flow through you. You were doing everything in your own power but did not rely on me and my infinite power. There was a barrier between you and your joy and connection to others that I did not put there. You put a veil of separation between you and the community to protect yourself when they were the very thing to save you from the enemy's evil plans. Have grace on yourself, your state of mind didn’t happen fast; it took time for the veil to become the norm, so the sunlight could never be fully felt upon your face. First, it crept in through a few thoughts and life events, and you became fatigued, making the thoughts unruly and taking away your ability to breathe. You were lacking oxygen, so eventually, you began to fall asleep, away from the spirit that breathed life into your lungs. Your energy was leaving, and your spirit began to be strangled. But this time, you kept reaching for others and fought isolation, and because you cried out to the LORD in your insecurity and fear, he pulled you out and placed you amongst your sisters, your spiritual church family, and brought you back to life, giving you strength to keep going. The enemy is roaming and devouring, taking more and more, putting the world to sleep so he can do his bidding. Hold tight to your friends and life-giving people in your life, for the coming time will require strength to go in and pull out every soul possible. Stay the course and follow the yellow brick road the LORD has laid before you. Every brick has a purpose, so step carefully and stay alert so you don’t run into the field of poppies and, before you know what is happening, fall asleep short of God’s destination for your life.”

Step 7: Pray. Confirm

Heavenly Father, I come to you through your Son Jesus.

I ask for abundant protection today over my life, family, friends, church family, and everyone I have an opportunity to encounter.

I will travel forward, leaning on the courage, strength, confidence, and authority of Jesus. He that is in me is greater than he who is in the world. I will be steadfast, unmovable, abounding to the rock you place beneath my feet.

Thank you for my life group. They are truly life-giving and the air that I breathe. I pray that as we all carry the good news of Jesus and become strong disciples of the word and your teachings, you will cover myself and every woman, family member, brother, or sister in Christ until the day of Jesus.

I seal this prayer with the precious blood of our Savior - Amen!

If you used the scripture of the day and need prayer or someone to pray with you, connect Here. Remember, you are not alone.

Step 8: Share. Testify

If you used the 8-Step Prayer Practice today, we want to see how God is working in your life! You can comment below or share your miracle or testimony HERE.

Conclusion:

Friends, you are not here by accident!

We are called and commanded to be disciples and need to make sure we are surrounded by others who care for us and give us life, as we are strong and courageous going out into the world to give life to others through spreading the good news of Jesus.

If you are not in a life group through your Church or other organization, find one. Don’t walk this world alone. We are made to be together and in a body and community.

Put on the whole armor of God today, friends! Give hugs to the people you love, and tell them how important they are to you.

God bless and protect each of you today! See you soon!