Breathe for a Moment
A book/life update
Breathe.
At work right now, I’m completely indulging the silence. Well, as silent as you can get with electronics humming around, and the heater running to keep us warm while it’s in the single digits outside.
This moment right here is what I needed after a couple of days of my brain fighting to stay upright as I navigated rapid waters I’m kayaking through. Nothing overwhelming, just requiring a lot of attention and leniency. That in itself can be too much.
As promised, though, I’m here to continue posting. I had planned to post a new chapter of Drawn in the Dark this week, but alas, I got a new laptop for Christmas and just realized that it is saved to my old one. As I’m working on Substack at the moment, we will just have to wait a little bit longer for it to come out!
I’m not willing to give the enemy a foothold, though. He doesn’t get to win this battle just because it’s saved elsewhere. I’m still here. I’m still walking in obedience. I get to talk to you for a moment, even through a screen.
How is your soul?
That’s been a question we’ve pondered during women’s group the past couple of weeks, since one of our chaplains brought it up. We often ask how each other is doing and go on with our day, but how often do we check in with more than our actions? How often do we check in with our souls?
Mine is doing better than I think... I think! It’s alive, kicking, and roaring for battle. Spiritual warfare is prominent on our doorstep yet again. It’s upped the ante since I decided to write a book about spiritual warfare.
What caught me by surprise was that it didn’t start in the beginning, when I was so excited and overwhelmed with the amount of research I needed to do. I didn’t even want to start because, well, where do I even begin? Yet the title and outline came so clearly and easily to me, I knew it was the right direction.
No, the attacks started after God got hold of my mind and quietly led me to read books of protection and grounding in my Christian faith before I even began the bulk of the research I wanted to explore; books like Psalms 91, Mere Christianity, and, dare I say it? My own Bible.
What I need to know is already in front of me. The answers are freely given. When I am unsure, I have a beautiful community of Christians to share my concerns with and ask questions. Do you know how wonderful it is to be able to be corrected without fear of rejection? Or to find confirmation amongst other believers? (I’d be remiss to say that correction always feels good, but it is good in itself.)
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.” ~Proverbs 3:11-12, NKJV
So, despite the vivid dreams that have started up again, and the warning the other night to stay cautious and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8), it is well with my soul. My God is good to me. He is with me. He is for me. Victory is already claimed in His name (1 Cor. 15:57). My soul is ready to go, yet quiet, as I need to learn to quiet my own life in this season so I can better hear Him.
The first chapter I wrote is not even the first chapter of the book. It’s on the importance of grounding. In our culture, we don’t focus on the spiritual side of our relationship with God too often. We know it’s there, but we don’t talk about it. In other cultures, it is accepted and talked about much more easily, like the sky being blue. (Or every color except blue if you want to get into that!)
I’m excited to share this journey with you; though, don’t expect the book itself to be on Substack anytime soon. That isn’t the direction God is leading me with this project as of yet.
Have a blessed week. If there’s anything I can pray over for you, please don’t hesitate to share.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance to you, And give you peace.” ~Numbers 6:24-26, NKJV