Life goes on
You know how life goes on each day without much thought. We have our routine that we go through and often we don’t allow much to change those routines.
A good example is our dogs, they love to receive love from us. They want our attention daily. I know for me when I sit down there come one or two of the dogs to sit beside me on my chair. It often doesn’t require a whole lot of time but I don’t have the time.
One dog, in particular, is a struggle. Prince sheds a lot and if you don’t want to go off to work with your clothes full of hair you best keep your distance. It has been difficult over time because I just love it when he comes up and sits on the back of my neck when I am sitting on the couch. He keeps my neck warm and lays his chin on my shoulder with such love.
We eventually started to train him to not get on the furniture due to his shedding. But he would often sneak, when no one was looking, to curl up on a chair or the couch. And he loves it most if there is a piece of clothing he can lay on that belongs to one of us. But if we see him we chase him off, wiping off the furniture or shaking a piece of clothing.
I remember that morning
There was one particular morning I found him laying on my coat. I quickly chased him off and shook out my coat. But I wish I would have picked him up and just hugged him. We often chased him away due to his shedding hair. And we do it without much of a thought. Because we think today is not going to be any different than any other day. And this day was no exception.
Every day when I come home from work all 4 of our dogs start barking. I don’t even really think about it much anymore because it always happens. So I did notice that only 2 dogs were barking. When I came into the house there to the left of me, in the entrance to one of our bathrooms sat Cuddles, one of our other dogs. He appeared to be leaning over like he was choking on something. But as I came nearer to him I realized he was soaked. He was trying to walk with his head laying on the floor. At that point, I realized he was wounded and in major pain. I didn’t know if his neck was broken or what exactly was wrong.
But then it hit me, where is Prince. I frantically went to his little bed as I called his name but no Prince. Then I rushed into the living room where he has another little bed but still no Prince. I headed for my bedroom where I could look out the window and see the area where we have a fenced-in dog yard.
I was devastated
There lying on his side just before the steps, was Prince, his body had been torn open beyond repair, he was dead. I was devastated, to say the least. Grabbing my phone I called my husband crying and hysterical. I was not sure what to do.
I knew I needed to deal with our dog Cuddles but was not sure how to approach the situation. He was in such pain I couldn’t pick him up. I was afraid to make whatever was wrong with him worse, especially if his neck or back was broken. I am so amazed at how dogs are so intelligent. Cuddles knew I was trying to help him. So when I got a box that had low sides and told him I needed him to get into the box, he jumped right in. I was able to carry him to the car so I could take him to the vet.
Thankful
I was grateful to find out that Cuddles did not have a broken neck or back. He had several puncture wounds but they didn’t want to stitch them but allow them to drain. The doctor gave him a muscle relaxer painkiller and an antibiotic for him to take.
Cuddles was in major pain and didn’t do a whole lot for a couple of days but he has recovered. It did change him and he will never be the same but that is what life experience does to all of us. Just like us, when injuries happen they change our lives. Cuddles also lost a friend and you could see the pain in his eyes and the depression that came over him.
It made me think
It started me thinking about the verse that says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1 Peter 5:8. He is seeking to destroy each one of us. Satan has a goal in mind and it is not in your best interest.
How vigilant are we? I know I can say for myself I am not as vigilant as I should be. He can be so subtle. I am sure that Prince wasn’t suspecting that he would die that day. And when we start our day we don’t often don’t suspect that our spiritual walk will suffer that day when we feel too busy to take time with the Lord. But without even seeing it coming our spiritual life is dead.
And the reality is that we can even be spending “time” with God and still be spiritually dead. Has it just been a duty to spend that time or a routine that you know you should do? Or are you having an intimate connection with God during that time? We need to check ourselves and make sure we are connected and if not take the time to reevaluate our life and make changes.
Why me
Then there is another question. How many people around us have been torn up spiritually by that roaring lion and need help? But is that my responsibility? Why does it have to be me? How do I do it and what is the priority?
Thinking back on my situations with the dogs maybe there is an answer. There was a dog torn, bleeding, and dead and there was a dog wounded and in much pain. There was absolutely nothing I could do for the dog that was dead but bury him. I couldn’t miraculously bring him back to life, only God can do that work. As I saw it, the emergency at hand, was to take the one that was wounded to the person that could help him in his time of crisis.
I believe the same is true of those around us. If there is someone that is wounded but still hanging on to a thread of life, it is a crisis and an emergency. If you don’t deal with it immediately, spiritual death is imminent. We need to go into immediate action and bring them to the Great Physician for spiritual healing. It will take time for recovery just like it did for Cuddles. We have to realize it will take much care, love, prayer, acceptance, and most importantly time, they can come around. It may not even be in our lifetime but we know God is able and we trust His healing powers.
I remember
One person that was a real praying person in my life was my grandma. And I remember how she prayed for her children, particularly one of her sons. Many years after she had passed away her son, on his deathbed, gave his heart fully to God. Each person has the power to choose and God can’t force anyone but as we continue to pray He will continue to work.
It brought me comfort to know that she prayed for all of us and how much faith and hope she had in God and His ability to answer her prayers. And although she is resting in the grave until Jesus comes I believe God is continuing to honor her prayers for her family. I believe prayer is the key to opening the storehouses of heaven. In other words, God will pull out all the stops for the salvation of just one person.
But what about…
Now the question is what about Prince, the dead dog? How can I apply this to someone dead spiritually? Can they be brought back to life? Well, for Prince my son made a special box for the burial, dug a hole, then we had a moment of prayer and buried him.
When it comes to death, spiritually speaking, it will take much prayer, love, compassion, acceptance, and time. It takes the same formula as for the wounded that are hanging on spiritually by a thread. Often it is the faults of others that have caused a person to be devoured by the roaring lion, Satan. It is a time for reflection and making sure we are in alignment with God and His love.
What can we bury
Is there something we can bury when it comes to someone dead spiritually? I believe there is more than one thing that needs to be buried. Let’s start with self. It is so easy to look at others and see the problems and we think we have the answers, “if they would just do this or that.” Or maybe we think they need to change and we have the answers for them. Let’s bury those thoughts right now. We need to get back to thinking, “What would Jesus do?” Yes, we have all heard this saying and it has become a saying without meaning. But the answer is still there.
If we dig into the Word and study the life of Christ on earth, we will find how He treated people that had serious problems. The people with serious problems, whether physical or spiritual were drawn to Jesus. Are people with serious problems drawn to you? This is a question we need to ask ourselves. And by the way, the majority of the time the physical problems will go away when the emotional and spiritual issues are addressed. We can see this process in the life of Christ and His ministry. It takes much prayer, love, compassion, acceptance, and time. It is God that does the work, we are just His instruments. He is the one that knows the timing and what is fully needed for any particular person.
What else…
You may be asking the question, “Great but what else needs to be buried?” Eventually, the person you’re praying for, loving, showing compassion to, and making them feel accepted through their struggle, will want to bury something. There is something that has died that they will want to bury so that it doesn’t come back.
They have been torn and they have been bleeding and death has come to their spiritual lives. But because of your prayers, love, compassion, and your smile of acceptance, they are ready to bury those things that have wounded them. The things that have drained the last bit of life out of them, they are ready to let go of and let the love and blood of Christ fill their souls. It is us allowing the power of Christ to work through us.
So many…
There are so many souls that are hurting, ready to end their life forever. The numbers seem insurmountable but you can start right here. There is someone within your sphere that is experiencing either just barely hanging on for dear life or is dead spiritually. And being dead spiritually will eventually bring physical death sooner than we want to have it happen.
Let’s put our time into that soul that is closest to us. Don’t worry about what others may say or think about your choices. This can become the most important focus you have and others may not understand. But there is One that does understand. Let Him lead and guide you.
Much prayer is needed. We need to be praying for God’s leading in our lives so that we can see the wounded and dying around us. It is so easy to just go day to day without thought or notice, oblivious to those around us. When we are told to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), there is a reason. We need to have our thoughts so connected with God that at any moment we will be lifting up a prayer when needed. And being connected is the only way we will hear God’s voice as He leads us.
Dear Father,
Thank You that You are always there for us and that You see all our hearts. Give us eyes that see people as You see people. As we go through our day, give us Your love to extend to those in need. Continue to prompt our hearts to stay connected with You so that we can reflect Your love.
Be with those that are hanging on by a thread or are dead spiritually. Surround them with Your Angels, protecting them from the devouring lion that seeks to destroy them. Protect us and guard us so that we don’t become a source of their discouragement but only reflect Your love. We know only You can read hearts but we sometimes forget and judge anyway.
Thank You for Your continual grace and mercy toward all.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Keep your eyes on Jesus and stay so connected that you reflect His love. Let’s not let another day go by letting someone slip away.
And if you are just hanging on by a thread or even feel totally “dead” reach out to someone that can help you through this difficult time.
I love you all!
What about you? Have you struggled at times where you have felt like you are hanging on by a thread? What helped you through your situation? Share in the comments. Are you going through hard times right now? Share your story so that we can be praying for you and there may be someone here reading that can relate to your story and be of help to you.
I am working on moving my blog over to another platform where I post blogs that cover every aspect whether spiritual, physical, or emotional health. If you would like to continue getting these blogs please go and subscribe at Revitalizing Your Health