November 14, 2024

Holy Spirit spoke the word, Slouch, to me with an assignment to unpack it. In this instance the word referenced is not a pronoun but a verb. That’s important!

Slouching happens when we bear burdens longer than intended. Burdens of loss, grief, fear, anxiety, wayward children, shame, divorce, trauma, addiction and more.  Apathy ensues.

He brought a memory to me of playing second base on a softball team. If I got the ball at second base there was potential for a double or triple play but the only way to make such grand plays is to receive the ball and release it quickly.  THAT is how we are to burden bear! We receive the burden, cover it with His blood and His direction then release it to Him for the greater play, the greater win!

            When we carry burdens longer than intended, we ruminate on pain and shame and the grocery list above.  That is the beginning of the slouch.   

If I, as a second baseman, were to catch that ball and hold onto it it would stop the game.  All of my opponents could potentially score and experience victory while I stand there holding a ball that was intended to be released quickly.

When our hearts have been broken, we unconsciously slouch in an effort to protect our inner self, our broken and disappointed heart but it does the opposite. It compresses and restricts function for God’s original intent within our physical body and in The Body of Christ. What’s in the natural is in the spiritual.  The flow of life is decreased or even stopped. Atrophy sets in, a gradual decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect. The slouch progresses.

Myles Monroe, an evangelist and preacher in the Bahamas, says, “The wealthiest place on earth is the cemetery. Buried in the cemetery are dreams that were never fulfilled, books that were never written, ideas that never became reality, visions that were never manifested, paintings that were never painted, songs that were never written, books that we’ll never read, great manufacturing plants that were never built, sermons that were never preached.  The cemetery is pregnant with unused success. Buried in the cemetery is treasure that makes God weep.  Don’t add to the treasure and wealth of the cemetery!!!  Rob the graveyard of your treasure!! Disappoint the cemetery!  Die empty!! “

Procrastination is leaving coins on the table that were meant to be spent yesterday to advance the Kingdom of God. 

No more procrastinating!

Hoarding is giving fear permission to live under your roof!  Stop hoarding! It’s time to give away or sell what you’re hoarding, evict fear, cultivate focus and fund the Kingdom around and within you, whether it’s in generosity or in task! What’s in the physical is in the natural!  As we clear out the clutter, we make space for a new, Kingdom treasure, … the things within YOU! YOU standing with a Holy Posture is the treasure!

No More Slouching!

I was asleep and woke up in the night hungry.  I never get hungry in the night and if I did I would never get up and eat something.  I was confused. Part of me felt like I should get up and eat the organic apple he showed me a picture of in my mind but I hadn’t slept much the night before and I was way too groggy to get myself out of bed. I had the thought that eating an apple in the middle of the night would feel refreshing but it would interrupt my sleep.   

Then He showed me that He’s placing a Holy hunger within us!  It’s a growling from within our bellies for Him.  He says to rise up, come out of your slumber and eat of His presence.  His presence is the only thing that will satisfy the grumbling hunger brewing from within!

Holy hunger for Him and eating His presence will interrupt our slumber!! Come and eat of His presence!