I was “introduced” to this lady via Facebook through a mutual friend. I had been struggling with my dizziness for a little over a year and I found out that she had the same thing. It was so wonderful to finally find someone who knew how I was feeling. She understood me, as crazy as our symptoms are. We have continued talking through the years and many times we have prayed together. She is such a blessing to me and I sometimes have trouble believing that she ever gets down and out because you wouldn’t be able to tell that by her messages or the tone of her voice. (I know she does, because she’s human and she is honest with me, but she is always uplifting.) I think that is a huge testimony of God’s strength being made perfect in her weakness. She has encouraged me to not be afraid to ask God to bring back my joy in all of this. Her life has shown me that it is possible to have joy unspeakable, even through the dark, scary unknown of dizziness. One day I hope we are able to meet in person. But even if we never meet on this side of Heaven, I know one day we will meet each other in perfectly healed bodies! Either way, Mary, I’m so glad the Lord allowed our paths to cross.
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Isaiah 6:1-3
Not long ago, I was reading about King Solomon’s throne in the book of I Kings. His throne was made of ivory and overlaid with gold. It had six steps up to the throne and lions standing guard at each step. What a sight it must have been!
More exquisite than that is the picture of God’s throne here in Isaiah, high and lifted up. Revelation also lays more of a picture and we envision emerald rainbows, seraphims, lightenings and loud voices. And we, like Isaiah, should tremble at the thought.
The thing is, we each have our own throne. Can you see it? There, in your innermost thoughts….your throne room. It is the place where all that controls your thoughts and actions resides. Ok, so who do you see sitting on that throne? Is it God, Jehovah, Elohim, The Great I Am?
Maybe it’s your kids.
Maybe it’s your husband.
Maybe it’s your health.
Maybe it’s yourself.
I would venture to say that for each of us it may vary from time to time. Today it might be almighty God as my godly music is playing and I have been in my Bible and prayer a lot, but tomorrow, when my weakness overwhelms me, it’s my health. The next day it’s my husband as I stress about if he really loves me or if he will leave me in the years to come. Maybe some days it’s my church congregants as I fret about what they think of me. Are they pleased with me?
Our throne’s occupant changes with our moods and attitudes. We can put so many things on that throne in our lives. Sometimes anger or bitterness toward a person or circumstance becomes our ruling power. We often put things up on that throne that don’t belong there, and we let them run the show for a while instead of letting God sit there and control us.
Over the years I have had many different health issues. Often my health sat on that throne. It became the ruling king in my life. I “worshipped” good health and was terrified of bad health. It became a god to me. In the process, it stole my joy.
I have also let other people’s opinions sit on that throne. Sometimes I have put a certain someone on that seat and let them control my thoughts, words, and actions.
Each and every day can be a struggle for us and our throne room. Each day we have a decision to make. Who will sit on my throne today?
How can I make sure that Almighty God is sitting in His place?
First, we must begin our day with the Word of God and Prayer. It is such a simple start that often gets overlooked in our daily lives. In order for God to have the preeminence, He must be given priority – not facebook, not kids, not exercise, but God. Put your time with him first and foremost in your day. While in prayer, we must ask the Lord to search our heart and reveal to us those things that are taking control of our life. Then, we must confess those things as sin. Give them over to God and turn away from such things.
Secondly, whenever we find ourselves allowing our thoughts and actions to be controlled by another person, emotion or attitude, we must redirect our thoughts and imagine ourselves opening up that throne room to allow Jehovah to occupy His throne again. Second Corinthians 10:5 says it best, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” This means every thought, attitude and action needs to be forced into submission of our heavenly Father.
Dear Friend, in this life so many things struggle to fill our throne room. So many others vie for control over us and our spirit. May we yield our spirit over to the only One worthy of control in our lives and allow Him to be high and lifted up.
Mary has been a mom of five for over twenty years, a pastor’s wife for more than thirteen, and has suffered various health challenges for most of her adult life. Rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and chronic dizziness have been a few of her companions on this journey, but the Lord has been her sustaining grace through it all. Her life is not what she thought it would be, but through His goodness it will glorify Jesus Christ.
Mary has her own blog here: https://livingsacrificeblog.com/
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