A few weeks ago, I felt quite sick and was thinking of running some tests and treating malaria cause it felt like malaria. Just then, I decided to ask the Holy Spirit first why I felt so sick (I learnt this from Dr. Okey Onuzo when he taught about making the Holy Spirit your first consultant and oh my world, works like magic). He told me it wasn’t malaria, I was simply carrying two much on my mind and I needed to lay them down at His feet. Wow! I didn’t realize I was that burdened to the point of feeling sick because I wasn’t brooding over any issues but somewhere in the recesses of my heart, there were things I was worried about that popped up from time to time and yes I wasn’t brooding over them but I wasn’t handing them over to Jesus. So, they were gathering and occupying space in my heart. I took out ample time the next day to unburden before the Lord and I have been feeling super since.
I share this story because we are at the end of the year 2019 and there could be so much to worry about. Sometimes it doesn’t look like you’re worrying but you are. If you catch yourself thinking from time to time about the things you could have achieved through the year but didn’t, then you need to unburden. If you are brooding sometimes or consistently over anyone’s weaknesses or offences, then you need to unburden. If you are worried about how to make ends meet, you need to unburden. I could go on and on but I’m sure you get the gist.
Many times, when people feel sick, it is because they are carrying burdens that they should hand over to God. If it’s something you can fix, He would show you what to do. If it is something you can’t fix, then you’ve got to trust Him to do what only He can do. The Bible says to cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). I’ve had experiences where the Holy Spirit would simply say to me “you are not taking enough water”. Talk about having a father who is watching over your life even to the tiniest details.
Your body is the temple of God and He has designed a way for it to function optimally. Carrying a burden is a sure way to hamper this power-house called “body”. Don’t go into the new year with burdens, let it all go and begin the year strongly. Talk to God about the things that seem to weigh you down. No trying to sound strong, no speaking of “Christianese”; just you and Abba Father talking and working things out.
Happy New Year in advance.