The Triumph

"Named aborted baby today. Declared forgiveness out loud. The day isn't even over yet. Whew!" 

That was a TEXT I got from a friend while she was attending a retreat. I stood in my kitchen and shed tears of so many kinds. As an adopted girl, abortion is such a reality to me. (And, consequently, has been a point of judgement that the Lord is refining.) I know the struggle my friend has battled to wrap her head around total forgiveness. I know the statistics: 40% of women in childbearing years have had an abortion. She's not the only woman hurting.

This entry is not about abortion. It's about this... "they triumphed over him {Satan} by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony..." (revelation 12:11). In other words, my friend's text finished the job. Jesus started the victory and she finished it. The blood of the Lamb came first, the spoken words of forgiveness sealed the deal.

What is the power in this? That, once again, the Lord has chosen to finish the job through us. He did it with the Great Commission, He does it with prayer and He even wants to take out the ultimate enemy using piddly ol' me.

Is this resonating? For all of you, sitting on your tail thinking, "I'm good. Jesus forgave me for my junk. It's over." You're missing the point. He is waiting for your testimony. Jesus wants your words, your experience, your story. It's that important. To us. To those waiting to hear it. To those of us who need to hear your story, to heal our story. Do you see the domino effect? My friend tells of her deliverance, it causes me to do the same, and you and you and you... TRIUMPH.

Isn't it just like Jesus to take the enemy's own scheme and turn it around to defeat him? I love that. That's what He does when He heals us- what man intended for evil, God meant for good.

"Beauty from ashes. Oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair...". Then you become an "oak of righteousness. A planting for the Lord to display His splendor." (Isaiah 61:3) There was a time that I  would never have thought of myself as an oak, a weeping willow maybe. Now I can't see myself as anything but an Oak. Roots deep. Limbs strong. Ready for any opportunity to display Splendor. 

http://www.toptenzpictures.com/top-10-amazing-tree-pictures/angel-oak-tree/

My sweet friend? Splendor. Roots deepening. Just yesterday she said to me, “Each time I tell my story, it's getting easier. Much less emotional.” That's what we need! Ladies who can tell their story, without blubbering, and with a confidence that can only say, “HE did this! HE healed me! HE set me free!” 

This is the next verse in Isaiah 61, “ They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.” A rebuilt city or building is always sooo much stronger than the one before. It's rebuilt to withstand waaayy more than the previous structure. That's my friend! Stronger. Fortified. Ready.

- jill