Learning to live from Christ’s victory

"When you were dead in your sins, God made you alive with Christ. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (Col. 2,13+15). There is so much that Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection – forgiveness of our sins, making us right with God, and victory over the forces of evil. On this post, I would like to focus on the last one of these.

Couple of years ago still in Turku, Finland, I came back home after a prayer conference. Still full of the anointing received at the event, I was getting to a very special place in prayer. I was near reaching out to a deeper place in the heart of Jesus and entering inner courts of His holy presence. Suddenly, however, I was disturbed by an ugly image in my head which totally snapped me out of the place I was in the spirit. I opened my eyes, distraught with a disturbing feeling, and could not get back to where I was any more. This is one example of evil interference, and there have been more similar like this one and also different other kinds, such as persistent strongholds in relationships with some of my closest people.

As I have been looking for some answers for my own life and that of my loved ones, recently God was directing me towards the literature on breaking free from bondage. It is a heavy topic in some ways dealing with the strongholds in mind from the past and the works of the devil. It is not something I was taking on enthusiastically, but I did so out of obedience to God’s leading. At times I did not want to continue reading, as the spiritual battle in my mind was getting more intense and some old fears reviving. However, in midst of that I saw an encouraging vision. Jesus was standing opposite to me and took my hands in his. Then we were lifted up and I saw the forces of evil going crazy in a big tumultuous mess under our feet. However, me and Jesus were above that and only felt them occasionally touching and titillating our feet. Evil is already put under the feet of Christ (Matthew 22, 44), and since Christ lives in us (Col. 1, 27), also under our feel.

When we look at the end of Mark 16, it’s clear that the gospel, believing, freeing from evil, healing, and being victorious over various circumstances go hand in hand. Jesus won at the cross the devil and his schemes, but this victory does not come into our lives automatically, it needs to be appropriated. The Holy Spirit needs to quicken us to understand this authority and the victory which is ours through Him. We need to deal with the doors of entry of the evil one into our lives by confessing possible past involvements with the occult, our sins, and the sins of our ancestors. The battle is already won for us, but we still need to take up our sword. To experience His fullest for us, we need to learn to take our position in Jesus and not to be passive. We are the instruments that God wants to use in the process of deliverance and we must actively co-operate with Him. Recently He spoke to me clearly: “Don’t wait for help from aside. YOU are the answer. I will use YOU. Your loved one will be delivered through your prayer guided by my Holy Spirit in you.” And as soon as He is showing the next steps, I need to take them in obedience. It is not yet done, but I am in the process of the Holy Spirit working in me for a change and breakthrough, and I start to see the way out of the situations that have been stagnating for many years. I once told Him I don’t want the things to remain the same, and Jesus answered He doesn’t want that either! Jesus is eager to destroy the works of the devil, just as when He was on the earth. Now He is using us for that purpose. Glory to Jesus for these revelations and all the victories ahead!

Journaling as a part of spiritual journey

At some point in the middle school, I started to keep a diary. I would record important activities of the day and sometimes even add my own illustrations of some events. Later at the high school, I liked to record how I feel. I accompanied my entries with some cutouts from the magazines which had some connection to what I was writing about. As an undergraduate student, I often wrote down the Bible verses and also was writing about some events of my life. During my first years of full time working experience, I stopped journaling; I just read the Bible and prayed daily.

However, some time after marrying and moving to Finland, I restarted to journal as a way to spend a better quality time with God. Since then, I have kept it comparatively constant. I am not always writing every day, but rather regularly whenever there is something that appears particularly important. My current way of journaling includes writing down the Bible verses that speak to me, quotes from books and also lyrics of songs which are meaningful to me. I also find it helpful to write down visions and dreams from God, because after some time, the details tend to fade. Regarding the sermons or speeches at Christian events, I feel that it is better to make notes elsewhere first and then make a summary one more time in my journal, which allows for better order and processing. At times, I also practice writing down quotes on the computer to share with others. I have received a task from God to do so for one particular person to assist spiritually for a longer period of time. Once I have the material, I can easily share it also with others upon need, if a situation and topic comes up again.

Visual form is important to me, so I also add cutouts from magazines as illustrations to my (paper form) journal. I lately have found that great sources of good pictures are the bridal magazines. I feel that the pictures accompanying my journal need to be very inspiring and beautiful to illustrate the spiritual riches well and to sparkle the imagination of good things that God has prepared to those who love Him (1.Corinthians 2,9). Bridal magazines often contain flowers, beautiful destinations, and a lot of white, which is a reminder of purity and holiness as a sign of our devotion to Him.

It is useful to journal as a way of spending time with God. I find that writing down assists in concentration, fortifies what God has been speaking to me and helps to remember it. In addition, while journaling it is possible to notice larger themes of what God is speaking to me about in certain periods and notice a direction where He is leading. Some key passages keep appearing again, and I think this is related to the call that God wants to accomplish in my life. Occasionally when I feel down, all that is necessary is to bring up and read one of my journals. I find lots of encouragement there and evidence that God has been speaking to me and leading me. Finally, keeping a journal is the only regular form of handwriting I do these days, so I also see it as a form of art expression, to make sure I do not forget writing by hand totally! It feels good to write and to be in the presence of God in this way. Perhaps it is not for everybody, but I certainly can recommend trying to do that if you seek a deeper connection to God.

Celebrating the Lord in dance

From about age of 5 to 10 I was involved in modern dance lesions. It was a big thing in our town those days which many people participated. We needed to have dresses made and performed in festivities and had own competitions.  There were white dresses for classic dances like waltz, and colorful ones for the Latin American dances such as cha-cha. Later during some period I also enjoyed attending school discos.

Because dance has been part of my life before, when becoming a Christian and listening to contemporary Christian music on my own at home, it felt natural to dance along, especially for those joyful songs with a good beat. I mostly have done it in private, as a way of spending time with God. Worshiping this way, it was often possible to shake off some negative impacts and move along feeling victorious. Occasionally, some Christian concerts or events have offered possibility to move a bit as well. I believe that dance in essence is a form of worship, because it does not accomplish practical value. For sure, dance can be used for other purposes than godly, such as igniting lust in masses. I believe that nevertheless dance originally belongs to God and can be an expression of joy and adoration.

So I have been familiar with dancing before the Lord for many years and have practiced it in some periods more, in some periods less. Recently, however, a new thought challenged me. I read in the testimony of David Sorensen that he was invited in the Holy Spirit to dance with the Creator of the Universe. Responding to this invitation, he experienced Him in an amazing way. I felt that through this testimony, God was making the same invitation also to me. Moving from dancing before Him to dancing with Him is really another level of closeness. I put on some worship DVD and started to dance. And indeed, I experienced that He was there with me, I felt His presence more than usual. I sensed also that there are angels in circle around us cheering and protecting the sacred space and moment. It was amazing. Later several times it happened that if I suddenly woke up in the night, Jesus was inviting me to get up and dance a bit in the silence. As I did that, I experienced His tender feelings towards me and saw myself as He sees me. Sometimes as I talk with Jesus, He just asks me to lay down all my burdens and dance. It is quite liberating! I have also seen with the eyes of my spirit that angels are dancing along.

Would you celebrate the good things that God is accomplishing through His people around the world? Would you move as God has created you to move? Would you shake off everything that binds you and just feel the pure stream of the Holy Spirit wash through your spirit? You were made for that, for worshiping Him. It can make you happier than anything else. He enjoys your every move in His presence, however awkward it may seem to yourself. Your movements make beautiful pieces of art which you will be able to see in heaven once. “I don’t know about you, but I feel better when I’m dancing / I bet you’ll feel better when you’re dancing / It feels so good to be alive / Celebrate this life that you are given.” (Megan Trainor / Better when I’m dancing & Good to be alive)

Step into the water and it will part

During my exchange in Sweden in 2002, I had a Christian friend. She was perhaps 10 years older, but still a student and occasionally we met up somewhere in the campus. Once on a sunny day, we just sat on the steps near the main library and decided to pray. I started off earnestly, but using pretty standard phrases in prayer. She stopped me and said: “That is not the way to pray!” She waited on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in silence and then prophesied to me these words: “Once when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, they at first had to step into the water and only then it parted in front of them (Joshua 3). Step into the water and it will part.”

I often remembered these words about a year later. My plan A after finishing undergraduate studies was to go to U.S. for Master’s studies. I applied for a Fulbright scholarship, but did not get it. I felt confused, returned to my hometown and started to work, which was somewhat difficult at first. However, gradually my boundaries increased and in retrospect I can see gain from those years - the working experience with international affairs, being part of the local church and near to my family, and strengthening my network of relationships at the place where my parents live. When I go back now, this place is still very alive for me because of the years I spent in-between my studies and moving to Finland. I have heard that for some people, going back now is like going almost to nowhere, as so much has changed and not many friends on spot.

Another situation when I needed the reminder of daring to step into waters was our move to China in 2013. I understand that for many people having this kind of opportunity would be exciting. For my case, the previous experiences in China were somewhat difficult. I suppose it has to do with my personality - being a highly sensitive introvert is not easy in noisy and intense China. Also, many people live in China largely in their own terms, but for my case, as a part of extended family I get to dive deeply into local ways of doing things. Once faced with the necessity to move to China, it was a bit like entering cool water when starting to swim. You feel shivering and hesitant at first, and the very first moment when entering is less than pleasant, but gradually you adjust and start to feel more comfortable. After nearly 3 years in China by now, I can see good coming out also of this move. My husband has more opportunities here, we have more help with kids and even it has been good for us spiritually. Our home Bible study group is great and here we also have access to other different type of Christian events in nearby Shanghai.  

This may sound much like ‘stepping out of your comfort zone’ stuff. However, I personally do not believe in jumping at anything just for the sake of taking risks. We do not have a promise that it will always be good for us or that it will always work out. I only believe in stepping into the water under God’s guidance. Going back to Joshua 3, when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, they carried the ark of Covenant, which was symbolic of God’s presence at a time. We need Gods presence and guidance in the big steps that we take, be it a necessary move or something else, like taking initiative to start to pray together with a family member. When He is with us, He will make those waters part in front of us, and we get to go through.