WOUNDS OF AN OVERCOMER

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend,” says the Holy Spirit in – Proverbs 27:6

It’s been a week of battles so let’s dive right in. The wounds we experience are beyond our ability.You see, The Lord Himself does the wounding. God in His power is working in us, for us and through us. With that in mind, The Holy Spirit continually leads me to authors who are at least 500 to 600 years old and I love it. 

I want to introduce a special author Julian who wrote only one book called “Revelations of Divine Love”. I found this tiny book to be filled with the fragrance of Christ. It begins with her prayer:

 —-“O’ God , please give me three wounds. The wounds of contrition [repentance], the wound of compassion and the wound of longing after God.”She adds a condition, “Father do what I ask and then send me the bill. Anything that it costs will be alright with me.” 

And the rest of the book is how God answered that prayer and the revelations for overcoming. Thank you Holy Spirit for lining this author up perfectly with our overcoming series.

"He said not: Thou shalt not be tempested, thou shalt not be travailed, thou shalt not be afflicted; but He said: Thou shalt not be overcome." —Julian Nordich

In order to overcome each of us must carry the wounds that Julian begs God for. We read about them in the Old Testament characters who were wounded, stricken by God and afflicted as The Lord was after them. One of the most beautiful and reassuring truths in Scripture is that God relentlessly pursues the one over the 99. Luke 15:3-7

Take Jacob for instance, twice God afflicted him, twice he met God and each time it came as a wound and one time it came as physical wound and he limped for the rest of his life. 

Whether it was the blinding of Paul on the road to Damascus, the Samaritan woman at the well, or the demon-possessed man on the shores of Galilee, those who encountered Jesus were changed in unexpected ways.  

There are many others too, but I feel Elijah was first a theologian of doctrine before he was stricken by God. This is an important fact. His encounter defeated and broke-down his self-assurance before God. And when Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up you know what it did to him. Or take Ezekiel who went down before God and became a little child again.

A wounded man is a defeated man [in the flesh], The self-confident man ceases to fight back. He lays down his sword to surrender and the wound finishes him. - A. W. Tozer

However, during David’s lifetime he did what pleased the lord and in his prayer, he expressed three major requests: cleanse me (v. 1-7), restore me (v. 8-12) and use me (v.13-19) and in his Psalms refers to “contrite” as a broken heart.

The [only] sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin] such O God, You will not despise. AMP Psalm 51:17

We have been taught repentance is a change of mind or the act of turning away from our sin. However, it’s also a prayer for a new heart and new spirit like we read in the Old Testament. It’s God who gives a “new heart” and puts a “new spirit” into the children of Israel. (Ezekiel 36:25-29). 

Let us pray and ask The Lord for a piercing contrite wound 💜 to our hearts! (Acts 5:30, 2 Tim 2:24-25) The only way to keep right with God is repent often and to check your spirit. 

The great one’s in the Bible are those who were wounded with a sense of contrition. These are the ones who never got-over the thought and feeling like they personally crucified Jesus when they sinned. 

Repentance is a wound I pray we may all feel each day!

Next, we read in Julian’s prayer that she asks for a wound of compassion. Now compassion is an emotional identification for others. Overcomer’s carry this wound of compassion because they suffer along with Christ for His people who are suffering.

For example, a coworker of mine families farm caught fire and three of the homes burned to the ground. I felt the burden of their loss so deeply, I cried out to the Lord. My relief came with action. I had to do something for them. 

I do not know if you have ever felt this sort of burden for someone you rarely know, but the wound is felt within your spirit rather than being understood within your mind. 

This is a wound of compassion. 

God uses our compassion to change the world. We have a whole society of people so busy seeking happiness, they are unable to “feel” true compassion for others. I have been observing this for awhile now, but this week it was tested. I posted a link on my Facebook page to ask for a small donation for these 3 families. They lost everything including their cars and were left with only the shirts on their back! I am sure they have insurance, but anyone who knows about fire, the insurance industry can be slow and smoke ruins everything it touches. The smell is devastating!

So, Guess how many people responded to my Facebook post?

I have over 850 friends, not only did I mention that just a few dollars could help this family to rebuild - only 5 people responded. To be exact 2 people shared my post and 3 people liked it! 

People today want to celebrate, I get it! It’s so easy to keep scrolling on social media, but this circumstance is a meter that our culture need to compassion within their hearts! I know that not all my friends are local nor could they donate but prayers are cheap and powerful and so is the "like" button on Facebook!

So many are deceived, if believers are filled with His Spirit, then Like Christ, we should experience sorrow and grief and labor for those who are suffering. 

A friend of mine recently shared that she had attended a funeral of a friends’ father who had suddenly died. She found herself crying for nearly 10 hours afterwards. She said she had never experienced such a burden of grief for an acquaintance. She explained the grief was perplexing but as she cried the burden was slowly lifted.

When Jesus our Lord was sweating in the garden or hanging on the tree, He could not be happy. He was the “man of sorrow and acquainted with grief”. Jesus calls His People to feel along with Him and to feel along with those that rejoice and those that suffer. 

He calls His people to be to Him the kind of an earthly body in which He can weep again and suffer again and love again.

It’s amazing really how if we are aligned with Christ how he can use us for His Glory!

Julian’s final request in her prayer was to really to long after God?

This little woman Julian wanted to long after God with such a longing that it became painful in her heart! She prayed, “O God, that I might want thee so badly that it becomes a wound in my heart that I can’t get over.” Julian begs for a heart change, not more instructions or fundamental bible teaching. She wants to yearn and know God to the point that it hurt! Wow! Piercing truth right there!

Not only does Julian want to be forgiven, but also to be wounded to suffer for the sake of others while always pursuing God ….no matter the cost! She was ready to pay the bill for what Jesus did for her and be God’s overcomer.

The one whose heart is open let him listen carefully to what the Spirit is saying now to all the churches. To the one who overcomes (Revelation 2:7 TPT).

When Moses saw the glory of God He begged that he might see more. When God revealed to him that he had found grace, he wanted more grace. 

Remember this —- the man that has the most of God is the man who is seeks God the most!

Wounding is of God and I believe He is impressing that time continues to speed-up and we have entered a divinely position for a tremendous kingdom opportunity! Those longing after God will find his open door.

Jesus has the authority to open and close doors, and as we Overcome every hinderance in which we have allowed for darkness, whether it’s through our culture of wrong mindsets, inherited DNA or any number of hinderances, we are to stand steadfast to become the Ekklesia of the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

As we stay true, even when it wounds us our Kingdom inheritance becomes our daily life. 

Overcomer’s hold the line so that His open door is granted every single day! An “open door” speaks of Kingdom favor, supernatural, and spiritual authority and a divine opportunity or moment.

He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: 

“I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. Because have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:7-13 NASB).

Please God grant this as we seek You and long after you!

As we move closer to God, His Son Jesus comes… thank you Jesus! We invite you Jesus today to Come Indwell in us and inhabit every cell within our bodies to make room for a garden that flourishes with a contrite compassionate heart!

Blessing,

🕊️Angela

Prayer:

Father, we come before you and bow are hearts to repent in all the areas where we have been lulled to slumber. We beg for more of you, to learn to suffer while being overjoyed with the understanding of your faithful wounds.  

Oh God, give me three wounds just as Julian has taught; for your wounding makes me aware of my own sinfulness. Wound me with compassion for the world that suffers, and wound me with love for You that consumes me to explore and seek you always and forever making room for your Son to reside in me. Thank you Father, I love you Lord, Amen.