236. By My Spirit

The air was cold and damp as I struggled to catch my breath. It felt like I had been running for hours. Running through the dense trees, through the wilderness. Running in a panic, exerting every effort to get away and to get to. Away from what, I’m not sure, ask Lots wife; but running to the promised land with everything I’ve got. 

Running with this deep knowing inside of me to go, and this overwhelming fear of dying on the vine where I have always been. Running with this need to be free, to feel the wind in my hair and the grass under my feet. Running with a dream of dancing in the rain. Running with this intense desire to do something, but not knowing exactly what that something is. This burning deep desire rooted in Jesus, drawn by His Spirit, that will not be quenched. Lord where you go I will go.

My eyes panned down to my hands, and it startled me to see they were completely covered in blood. I looked up again to realize that I was now standing still, stopped dead in my tracks in front of a stone wall. It appeared as if it had been there for centuries. The once gray stone, now moss covered and eroding as the structure stood sound. 

With a closer look at the wall, my heart sank. I could see them plain as day. Bloody worn grooves dug into the mossy stone.   My fingernails and tips shredded down to the exposed bone. I could see every time I dug at this strong tower in my own efforts. I could see the years of digging for freedom painted in the moss, and clawed into the face of that stone like a bloody finger painted canvas. I could see that the years of my own exhausted efforts had only gotten about a foot through a meter thick wall. 

In that moment I was overcome with exhaustion and with a feeling of failure. I was overwhelmed with thoughts and feelings of why bother to keep going just quit. In that defeat, in that hopelessness, years of my own efforts caught up to me.  I leaned against the wall in tears, head down, at the end of myself. 

Then the Lord whispered, “Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, Ash.” and with that simple sentence something rose up in me.  I had to keep going. I couldn’t give up. 

I felt the warm, calming presence of the Lord flood through the atmosphere. I looked up to see Jesus standing over me to the right. He placed the palm of his hand against the stone wall, and in that instant, it began to crumble and fall. As the stones cracked apart, the light began to burst through every available space, destroying in moments every effect that darkness once had for centuries. 

The peace I felt in that moment is indescribable. Jesus Christ is undeniable. 

Many times we get caught up in our own efforts. We want to work with the Lord but not serve the Lord. We want Jesus as our Savior when His jealous desire is to be the Lord of our lives. In this walk with Christ, His Holy Spirit will lead us to our strongholds in order to tear them down. To show us what can’t come with us to the next season and to help us strip things away that hinder our walk and relationship with the Lord. When you feel like you’ve hit a wall. Stop and sit with the Lord. Let Him show you how to tear down the stronghold that stands in your way. Let His touch break through those walls and tear down centuries of darkness in moments. Not by might, not by power, but by His Spirit. 

Father I thank you for your Holy Spirit, I thank you Jesus for your sacrifice. I thank you for your mercy, grace and for your goodness. In the name of Jesus, Lord I ask that your Holy Spirit touch your kingdom sons and daughters, that Your fire fall, and Your presence be the force that breaks through every stronghold in their lives. Lord show us where we need your healing touch. Renew our minds, replace every lie with the truth of your word, heal our bodies and draw us deeper Lord Jesus, in your mighty name. Amen.

Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

2 Corinthians 10:3-7

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 

7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

Deuteronomy 33:27 - The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Isaiah 53:5 - But 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.

Revelation 1:5 - And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

1 John 4:8 - He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

John 14:17 - Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 14:26 - But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Romans 8:9 - But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Romans 8:2 - For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

John 16:13 - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Galatians 4:6 - And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.