What does that feel like?

Since I've been a bit under the weather the last week, I've been thinking a lot about sickness, our perceptions of it and our perceptions of health. Of course I'm thinking of it spiritually as well as physically.

Have you ever looked at 'healthy' people when you're sick and thought, "Man, I wish I could feel that way." or maybe, "What does that feel like - to be healthy?" I have done it all week. I especially think about it when I see the family chowing down on something scrumptious for dinner and I have no taste for it whatsoever. I mean, seriously, it's Carrabba's people! I should be shoving my face in it. Nope. Passed over an entire meal (well, I ate a bit of bread and salad) and watched it go away. Not a bite. I mean that.is.sick.

Have you ever looked at a healthy spiritual person while you are in the midst of great spiritual turmoil and frustration only to say, "Man, I wish I could feel that way." or maybe, "What does that feel like - to be spiritually free and healthy." I can remember time after time watching people operate in the freedom God has designed for us while my chains held me captive. I longed for that freedom. Wondered what it 'felt' like.

Sometimes, we can be sick so long or bound so long that we become comfortable in our sickness/bondage. What? This isn't new material, friends. It's classic, actually. We love the chains. We love the sickness. We don't say that. But we surely live that way.

I've had more people shove medicines in my face to try and help me feel better this last week. And while I know that if I take the medicine it will alleviate my symptoms, I don't. Why? Because I hate taking medicine. So here I sit - hurting, coughing, wheezing, sneezing, snotting, etc. (You get the picture). And relief is just a pill (or a "plop plop fizz fizz") away.

So many times in our spiritual lives we do the exact same thing. There are numerous opportunities given to us to break free from the spiritual sickness we are in. But we have gotten so used to being there - we don't want to have to actually do something to get out of there. So we sit in our bondage. Completely fine with it. Oh, outwardly we say we aren't. We complain. We want sympathy.

But inside, we're just fine thank you.

Like I talked about last week, when I finally truly wanted to break free from the mental hold the enemy had on me, I had to do something about it. I had to write down the scriptures. I had to quote them out loud when something attacked my mind. I had to rebuke his tactics. I had to call on Jesus.

Notice the trend? I had to do it. Now for those of you out there that want to say, "Mary, Jesus will do it for you," I beg to differ. Scripture is clear over and over again that God expects us to do something as well. Everything isn't handed to us on a silver platter.

I guarantee you that God most likely didn't put you in the pit. Or wrap the chains around you. Nope. Over time, you allowed the enemy to put them on link by link until one day you woke up and there you are - totally bound up. So why would you expect God to unlock them if you aren't willing to get up and do a little work?

Notice what we have to do:

Romans 12:1-2 (Amplified) -

1I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

That's just one of many (if you want the entire list I used, just leave me a comment below with your email address and I'll send them to you!).

So what does it feel like to be healthy and free? I'm well on my way to finding out.

Care to join me?