When a Cannon Ball Shatters Reality

I am able to control my own life-
I am not able to control my own life

Photo Credit: Lana Southwood

 

Reality hit and impacted like a cannon ball. I do not possess the ability to control my life, no matter how independent I am. When someone tells me “you can’t,” I have always been one to prove to them wrong. When someone says, “you’re too small,” I will prove to them size does not matter.

And out of nowhere a cannon ball shatters my ability to control my life. I will say it a million times I am horrible at complete surrender. It is an aspect of my spiritual journey I keep laying down and picking it back up, thankfully Gods grace covers me and my stupidity.

Picture this, you are on the last play of a basketball and down by two. You have the ball and shoot 75 percent from the three point line, but you are heavily guarded. Down low you have a man wide open that can make shot to tie the game. Do you tie the game to go into overtime? Or do take the shot with a decent possibility to lose the game.

Lately, I have been the player taking the risky three’s and if there was such a thing as luck (and there is not)—lately, luck has been my game. But, my hot streak has come to an end. The short term game is lost, or so I believe it is. My eyes see a game lost, a journey coming to a halt, hard work gone unused and a team left in the dust.

But, at what point will I be able to cast aside seeing with earthly eyes and see with Heavenly eyes? My humanity is feeling a lost situation, no matter the avenue traveled. But, what does my spiritual heart believing?

Logically, I am sure my situation is a stupid and petty reason to be upset, but emotionally I am satisfied with being mad—it seems fitting. Is it the final breaking point that allows me to grasp the absolute need to totally surrender every ounce of myself to a Savior who already gave every ounce of Himself for me?

I believe there is a radical spiritual lessons and life to be lived during this time, and after. But, I first need to get past the hump that my reality has altered courses. It is not catastrophic as though it seems. It may even bring more peace than I believe possible, but to experience this I need to get past controlling my own destiny and my disbelief of physical healing. I cry out, Lord—I truly believe, but my humanity is getting the better end of me so help my stupidity of unbelief (Mark 9:24).

As I journey to step closer to understanding the Fathers opportunity for increased knowledge of the Spirit, He reaches out:

"Trust Me in the depth of your being. It is there that I live in constant communion with you. When you feel flustered and frazzled on the outside, do not get upset with yourself. You are only human, and the swirl of events going on all around you will sometimes feel overwhelming. Rather than scolding yourself for you humanness, remind yourself that I am both with you and within you. I am with you at all times, encouraging and supportive rather than condemning. I know that deep within you, where I live, My Peace is your continual experience. Slow down your pace of living for a time. Quiet you mind in My Presence. Then you will be able to hear Me bestowing the resurrection blessing: Peace be with you.” Jesus Calling, Enjoying Peace In His Presence by Sarah Young

If we will just go an inch, God will go a mile and beyond. An even more raw radical thought, we do not even have to go an inch for God to come racing our direction with arms wide open saying, “come unto Me—I love you!”

It is my time to be quiet, to slow down and mediate on His Presence. I am going to struggle with this because S l o w i n g down is not an aspect of life I have perfected. I am a butterfly that always has someone to see or something to do. My wings just got a trim and are out of order for a span of time. In the mean while, Jesus is begging for my time. He has been waiting, and I have put Him on hold. He’s heard all the annoying hold songs and messages, but never once did it enter His mind to hang up. Instead, He hung around—radical.

It is time to meet with Him and trust that He has it all figured out and constructed way beyond my human comprehension. As Corrie Ten Coom said, “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.”

Yes, a cannon ball shattered my reality. Yes, I was and am mad about it. But, I know that with the internal tormoil that errupted from this injury that God is about to flip my world upside down. I am ready to rope the cannon ball and ride it out. Converting back to my athletic mind set, "where there is no pain there is no gain." The pain is present, but gain is near.

A Radical Prayer-Praise Connection

Finally, I am grasping a little more of Jesus through the spiritual eye of the prayer-praise connection.

Photograph by Dwayne Southwood

While on a road-trip to a wedding in Missouri I was reading, the “The Circle Maker,” by Mark Batterson, to my family. I was radically shaken by a thought: What if we prayed in praise?

Growing up in a family and around spiritually equip Jesus lovers, I’ve always heard “pray until something happens.” But, what would happen if we prayed via praise until something happened? 

Isn't praising God for something we know He has already figured out, transformed or won the essence and base of faith itself? In Hebrews 11:1 it speaks of faith as believing in what you cannot see. Human eyes can fog our ability to see the spiritual realm of Gods great devotion to us. When the realm is foggy, praise. Pray in complete thankfulness and awe that you know He will answer. In such a humble matter that it comes out as earnest praise. We praise though we cannot see. God rewards because He can see. Now that is radical.

       “The Circle Maker,” is based on praying circles around your biggest dreams and greatest fears. Prayer truly changes everything. I encourage everyone to seek out their biggest dreams and greatest fears. Dreams add joy and faith to our lives, but fear hinders joy and faith. It is time to seek out impossible dreams and discard hindering fears. 

       Start the circle journey by praying fervently around them, drench them in the tears, joy, praise, passion and thankfulness of your heart. Set aside time to make these your primary priority. It can be your dream, the dream of your loved ones or a friend. 

       I encourage you to journal your thoughts, prayers and growth during this time. It is humbling to see the finish after reading the beginning. Also, it is a great place to return to when the devil snatches at your spiritual fire. Believe me, the devil will try to drain your faithfulness, but your God has already beat the devil. Praise God for the war already won--the devil know he's going to lose.

There is never a bad time to fall to your knees. There is never a bad time to call all angels. There is never a bad time to ask Jesus to intercede on your behalf. There is never a bad time to place all your heart, all your soul, all your fears and all your dreams at the feet of a powerful heavenly Father.

There is always time for more Jesus. 

There is always time for more prayer. 

There is always time for more praise. 

There is always time for more transformation. 

There is always time for one more hallelujahs. 

There is always time for complete joy in Jesus. 

There is always time for a shattered heart to be made new. 

There is always time to meet with Jesus, but the question is, do we overlook the importance of meeting with Him daily? And not just daily, but continually all day.

Yes, I believe you can meet with Jesus 365.5 days a year and 24 hours a day. Jesus will meet you where you are at. You are at work, He’ll meet you there. You are fixing supper, He’ll meet you there. You are sleeping, He’ll meet you in your dreams. How much do you want to see His face, feel His love and help Him transform your life and the world you live in? Where are you? Close your eyes, open your heart--He's right here, right now. Stop, and take time to meet with Him and be in His presence here and now. 

How was your time with Jesus? There is nothing that can beat real, raw and radical time with Jesus. This can be your daily reality.

I’m calling all spiritual soldiers. Let us be the generation, be the people and the church that transforms a world with prayers of praises. Let us praise in action. Let us act in love. Let us love in Jesus and allowing Him to move and sweep over this land.

Yahweh, thank you for the people praying circles. Thank You for all prayers of praise. Thank You for all unanswered prayers. Thank You for continuing to move in a nation and world that have turned their backs on You. Thank You for the spiritual soldiers conquering the world with Your love. Your name is a sweet hallelujah and my hands are lifted high. I praise You for the protection You are putting around each spiritual soldier. I praise You for those who inspire us to seek after Your heart. I praise You for the reality of our biggest dreams and the conquering of our greatest fears. Your love is incomprehensible, but we desire to keep trying to comprehend the incomprehensible. Your name, Your love and Your greatness forever and ever, amen.

Check out, “Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven,” by Graham Kendrick. It is a wonderful song to develop an atmosphere of praise.