When Losing Is Actually Gaining: Part 4
Over the past month, I have pressed into everything I can get my hands on in God’s word about kindness, gentleness and tenderness. I channel my inner 5-year-old ‘Peter Cotton Tail’ to ask her what was she wanted on that painful day. And His word begins to burn within me, purifying my heart.
My most recent courageous moment came when I heard a sermon regarding favor and honor. Favor and honor derive their meaning from the Greek word for Kindness. They are all tied together–interdependent on one another. In the sermon the pastor was saying to recognize when you are in the presence of someone given a specific gifting; an anointing of favor—it’s God’s kindness in and on them. If their favor happens to be in an area of your life that you are lacking, it will honor Jesus for you to honor the gifting in that person by asking them to pray for you—to bestow some of their favor and honor onto your life. In Revelation Wellness® we call this getting under someone else’s piñata.
Orphans scatter when someone else gets breakthrough of favor.They stomp their feet and march away in a “not fair” spirit. But confident children run under the piñata of breakthrough to receive more goodness because they know sharing is an enjoyable and contagious command.
I began to think…who is it that I know who has a special gift, a special favor for kindness? Immediately, my sweet daughter Sophia came to mind. Friends, I can not explain it, but since birth, this little girl of mine has a kindness streak in her that is not of this world. If I am honest..I haven’t quite known what to do with this gift of hers. For me, it’s beautiful, and it’s uncomfortable. I have always told her “Sophia, you are going to be a better mommy than me. You are so kind.”
Allow me to mommy boast for a minute. From the first moment Sophia laid eyes on my hurt foot, her lioness- warrior- kind self, rose up. Since my husband was out of town at the time of my injury, she was first on the scene. Sophia was quick to say “Mom, are you okay? Mom, I will help you. Mom, I can get it for you. Mom, LET ME help you.” My first night as a pirate she said to me “Mom, let me know when you are going to bed. I will help you get ready for bed.” My sweet girl felt it imperative to turn down my sheets, place water next to my bed, turn on my bedside light so I could read and then get a hold of this…she felt it necessary to put my pajamas in the dryer then run them quickly to me so she could help dress me in warm pajamas before going to bed. This is a kind of kindness that is foreign to me.
(My #sophiathebrave and I. We were #bornforabattle love wins!)
There was no taunting, no teasing, no making light of the situation or calling me a fool. The enemy was already doing enough of that in my head.
Yes, the girl has been given the gift, the favor, the honor of bestowing kindness.
Upon the closing of that sermon, I looked over at my daughter playing Minecraft, and I heard the Lord say “Her kindness is my favor. Ask her for some.” I interrupted her intense game of building and blowing things up to ask Sophia if she would pray for me. She seemed a little confused, so I explained to her what I was learning and what I was needing. Her face lit up, and she got it. She was quick to share.
I honored my 12-year-old daughter that morning. I acknowledged her overflow and my lack. She prayed the kind of prayer that no demon in hell can stand against or take back. And the angels all stood quietly around us, holding holy ground as my heart received its transplant of Godly kindness.
I can’t explain it, but something shifted in me that day. Something has shifted INSIDE me. My eyes were opened. I haven’t experienced just a revelation of the heart, but of the body and soul too. Nine months ago I willingly crawled up on the altar of a surgery table, but this time he tenderly placed me on the altar of a surgery table to give me the deeper desires of my heart.
(Grateful to be cleared to move. It’s not pretty…but it’s moving in love, to me.)
Nine months ago The Good Surgeon removed fear from my heart.
Eight weeks ago The Good Surgeon filled the hole that fear had left, with His love and kindness.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience – Colossians 3:12
Man, if this injury hasn’t grown me in all those above stated Godly characteristics, I don’t know what will.
- Compassion: My heart is enlarged for the disabled and the elderly–those who feel and think the world is passing them by quicker than they can move.
- Kindness: I think we’ve covered this.
- Humility: This girl who knows how to be strong has learned to embrace her weakness. It’s where Christ’s power rests on me.
- Gentleness: I have learned to go easy on myself–embracing what it means to be kind and gentle with ourselves and others.
- Patience: Moving slow has a way of slaughtering your fast paced “I want it now”, life.
This foot injury has been THE BEST uninvited house guest I have ever hosted. I would be lying if I said it has been an easy transition to get to this place of favor. It wasn’t. It was ugly. It was messy. It was gory. Bitterness, birthed from my disappointment with God and others, swirled about in my hurt, daily. One day I lost it so bad on my kids who were just trying to help, that if words were weapons, I would be wanted for mass-murder– blood and dead bodies everywhere.
In every ugly moment, I have continued to train my pain my; to take my pain and run to the safety of my Father. He has comforted me, and He has convicted me. In both places, He has been kind.
He wastes NOTHING, friends. THIS, all of this is an answer to my cry for more of Him.
God specializes in taking all our gory and turning it into something beautiful for His glory.
Welcome to my newest season of greater.
Thanks for listening. Now it’s your turn to share. What does your season of greater look like?
His love.
Alisa
Want to bless our socks (and my boot) off? Help send us to HopeFest Phoenix; a day where we use fitness as our tool to train hope with the homeless, marginalized and working poor. Donate and get your limited edition ‘Born For A Battle Love Wins’ yummy, soft-cotton tee. (as seen in the picture above).
13 Responses
In October 2014 I had an emergency appendectomy. In August 2015 I had a kitchen accident and nearly cut my finger off and went under again for ulnar nerve repair surgery. Funny thing – I’m 40 years old and have never even been in the hospital, much less had surgery, then twice in 10 months?!?!? Sound familiar? I have lost 215 pounds over the last 20 years. All by myself, all with God’s grace and ability, but once I reached my goal weight I had to learn how to “maintain”. For 4 years all I did was abuse myself on the treadmill for an hour every. single. day. to keep myself in check then on the weekends, I would abuse food and alcohol. Man, it hurts to say that. But I did. Clearly I didn’t learn from the first time My Jesus sat me down with the appendectomy, so when the second surgery came along, I listened. It’s like you say, “when the freedom comes around, jump on it! Don’t wait until it comes around again!” After the second surgery, RevWell offered the first Clean Hearting Challenge and I JUMPED on that train sister! I remember not being able to do some of the exercises because of the cast on my hand. Those 30 days changed my life. The question for me wasn’t how to maintain, but why did I feel I had to maintain my abusive behaviors? I wasn’t maintaining my weight, but my addictions. Crazy! Once I let The Good Surgeon work on my heart and why I looked to excessive food and drink to comfort me instead of Him….welllll….the rest they say is history. HE SET ME FREE. All that control, all that counting, all that MyFitnessPal, FitBit….I dropped it all at His feet and He’s taken better care of me than I could have ever imagined. It’s funny, once I let go of MY control, I gained HIS freedom. That’s why I love RevWell, during the workouts you say, “It’s enough friends, it’s enough”. I can’t tell you how that encouragement helps me to not STRIVE and just Him lead me. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve bawled through cool downs…. hahaha, I know I’m not alone there. Those are the best!
Alisa, I relate to you on so many levels. Doesn’t it feel awesome to not live underneath that weight any longer? PRAISE JESUS! ALL DAY LONG!!! And I thank our Precious Father for putting Sophia in your life. What a gift she is! Thanks for all you do, thanks for Revelation Wellness, thanks for the Clean Hearting Challenge, thanks for CHANGING MY LIFE 🙂 You rock on, sister 🙂 BIG HUG!
I am so encouraged today 🙂 THANK YOU. THANK YOU for being an authentic child of God kind of leader. You are rare and the world needs more compassionate, authentic, kind, gentle, bold and patient leaders like you. Still leading with a limp 😉 well done good and faithful servant.
Your post has catapulted me into diving deeper into the search for the blessings that I am to find associated w the intense loneliness I am feeling at this time. It’s been almost a yr since my mutual divorce after 29 yrs married. Yes, there have been tons of blessings and huge amnt of growth but you have shown me today that I am rushing myself much too quickly thru a long process of mending n healing my broken heart. Thank you for your powerful words, reminder that God’s got this, me, and to look for the things that are right here in front of me that HE is using
Not sure what it looks like, but I am sure that He is growing me. In all ways that I can imagine and I do know that it won’t be wasted not one tear not one day of it. It is hard at the moment but I know that there will be a day on the mountain coming! Thank you so much for sharing this – it is inspiring!
Welcome to Joy!; your season of greater. I’m so glad and grateful you pressed through the hard, stiff, and murky waters. So grateful, friend.
In short, I was struck with the flu last week while coming to a place of what Inwas sensing as a breakthrough from our Lord. I could sense His breakthrough coming. Then, ugh!, I just as suddenly got extreme headache, skull hurting, body ache, etc. I was in bed over Easter weekend for three or four days. I chose to see this as a gift to rest. Pray. Rest. And pray. I chose to stand Holy Spirit up and let HIS light shine vs hiding under a bushel of sheets and TV, etc. all fine things, yet I felt He called me to more. I was overwhelmed on Easter with praying for others who were ill and unable to be with their families, friends, churches. That was my place of greater. It was so worth it to lift others up to the Father of heavenly lights!
Alisa, your words and ministry bless my soul! Thank you for allowing God to turn your pain into His good, and for showering your pinata over all of us. Blessings and prayers
I have been an aneurysm survivor for 24 years. Starting at age 17. I am now 41. So I get u! I will pray for you and the ministry. Revelation Wellness has helped me greatly over the past year. U guys are ministering to me! Finally someone who gets me My feelings about God. Thanks again,. In Christ love
I am a child of the King raised with an orphan heart. Would you pray for me to be free? to walk in boldness and confidence, rejoicing in the gifting of others? I have recognized some shackles being released, but I want to walk in perfect freedom.
Father, we thank you that your word is a promise to us that you have not left us as orphans. You are ours and are yours. I pray for my sister Susan. I pray that she would know her place at the table is set and non-negotiable. I pray she would have an increased appetite as she sits at your table and eats; energizing herself to go out and love with the same love she has been given. To go out and invite other to this same banquet table. Father, I thank you that as of today Susan has been taken captive by your love.He can not tease or taunt your daughter any longer. We bind up the spirit of orphan and tell him and all his no good friends that they are to leave, in the name of Jesus. Thank you that your daughter is perfectly imperfect as she pursues your perfect plan for her life.
I feel like I am suppose to remind you that you have ALL the resources you need at your fingertips. It’s all been finished. It happened on Calvary. Walk in your true identity, or don’t budge at all. Get on your knees and cry for help from your Father. He will come and put you back on your feet and get you ready to move again, in love. This is a done deal. – praying
Any chance the sermon you listened to is a podcast?? This is such a new concept to me “getting under someone’s pinata”, I would love to study it further! Thanks for pouring your heart out. Your vulnerability is a gift! May God bless you and pour his favor out on you his faithful servant. You are so loved!
Sure. This is it..http://www.bethel.tv/watch/3910/obstacles-to-healing-the-issue-of-honor-sunday-am/2016/03/28
Just being in this group,doing rev well workouts. God’s word,I am favored
Thank you for your honesty and humility! I am in a place of transformation I just know it! I have been in a season of feeling lost. Last night my overwhelmed thoughts came to a head in an night I would describe and one for the books in my childrens and husbands minds when “mommy lost it” moments. You stated above: “In every ugly moment, I have continued to train my pain; to take my pain and run to the safety of my Father. He has comforted me, and He has convicted me. In both places, He has been kind.
He wastes NOTHING, friends. THIS, all of this is an answer to my cry for more of Him.
God specializes in taking all our gory and turning it into something beautiful for His glory.”
That is what I needed to hear. I am not afraid of humbling myself before the Lord and my sisters in Christ as I did last night.. but I don’t seem to ever take it to the next level of believing it, living it, and maintaining it! Journaling, printing scripture, spending time in his word, worshiping with my Jesus music.. I do all those things, I just can’t move past my self doubt, turning to food for peace and calmness, and questioning how my past has something to do with my not so pretty reactions and moments. Pray that I do can get in that place with you of taking my gory and turning it into something beautiful for His glory. I do it well for others, but not always for myself! Would love to meet you one day! You inspire me! Hugs, Dawn