October 19

I woke up at 4 am this morning with an aching back. How could it be hurting when I was doing nothing but sleeping? As I lay there trying to get comfortable, I realized that part of my problem was the dog. He was sleeping so peacefully that I didn’t want to disturb him, but because he was by my feet, I couldn’t stretch out. After tossing and turning for about an hour, I decided that it was time to move him; precious or not, he had to go. As soon as I was able to stretch out, I felt relieved and went back to sleep. Not more than 10 minutes later, he was back at my feet, filling the void, so I had to change positions so I could fall back to sleep again.

The same thing can happen when Jesus sets you free from your affliction. If you don’t fill the void with the Holy Spirit, that very burden can creep back in. And, because you had cleaned everything up, other encumbrances will make their way in too. Sometimes we indulge our infirmity, like my sweet dog, because ridding ourselves of it means that a precious part of us is gone. Once we realize how much more comfortable we are without it, we work even harder to move it out of our way. Pray for God to help set you free from your burdens so you can sleep peacefully.

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?  Galatians 4:9

Also see Matthew 12:43-45