"Jump over the wall"

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“Jump over the wall” By Diane Webb

Psalms 18: 29 “For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.”

Doubt in our own skills is one way we reject the power of Christ in our lives. When we doubt we are limiting our capacity to do all we could do according to God’s will. Instead of doubting, ask God for strength and courage to continue his work in your life. There is a man who, when unable to figure out a problem, (whether it be crossed up wiring or an engine that won’t crank), prays a silent prayer for God to show him what’s wrong. Within seconds of praying, the man has a sudden idea of where the difficulty might lie. Sure enough, the problem is corrected. Only when he recognizes “I can’t do this by myself” and asks for God’s help, does he find the extra bit of knowledge he needs to finish the job. Doubting your own abilities is one thing but doubting God’s is another. When we doubt God’s ability to help us, as in “I am beyond help”, we are truly boxed in by the enemy troops. Maybe we just forget to turn to God and ask for help. Perhaps we don’t think our problem is worth bothering God over because, we think, God is busy helping more important people. People who doubt themselves and their worthiness are often ashamed in some way. Usually there is something from the past that keeps them feeling unworthy of present blessings. Shame is a lack of forgiveness of self. If you have a persistent problem with doubting yourself, look inside and see if shame is part of the problem. If you find shame in your heart, look for the things you may not have forgiven yourself for. Go through whatever steps are necessary to achieve full forgiveness from yourself. Guilt, on the other hand, is usually the result of other’s efforts to manipulate or control. They may use something from the past to keep you in oppression. There was a lady who borrowed a sum of money from a “friend”. Although she was paying her friend back in steady monthly payments, through guilt, the lady felt obligated to be at the beck and call of her friend every waking moment. She watched her friend’s children, helped her friend clean her house, and did anything her friend asked her to do because of the money owed. The free labor she provided did not subtract anything from the debt owed. She was in bondage to her “friend” because of guilt. God does not work this way. Shame, doubt, and guilt are feelings which interfere with asking God for help and hinder our ability to overcome obstacles. These emotions keep you prisoner in your enemy’s camp. While you are busy trying to appease your enemy, you miss the blessings and opportunities God has for you. By overcoming shame and guilt’s chains, you can pursue God’s will in your life. You do not have to be kept captive by the shame of past mistakes or guilt-trips of those trying to control you. You can jump over the wall of doubt and be free to explore the wide open spaces on the other side. When you have asked God for forgiveness, you do not need to dwell on past failures. Shame, guilt, and doubt are just stumbling blocks to keep you from bettering your life and fulfilling God’s purpose for you. When faced with shame, guilt, or doubt, remind yourself—“I belong to Jesus, he has paid for my sins, and I am free”; say out loud “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4: 13). Walk through your enemy’s troop and jump over the wall. May the Lord share his presence with you today.

Blessed father, I thank you for the gift of your son Jesus Christ who has forgiven my sins and wiped my record clean. I am no longer in bondage to my past mistakes. Jesus has paid my debt and I am free to seek your guidance, help, and strength in all I do. Please, Lord, help me to remember this truth. I pray in Christ’s name, Amen.