Stop the Virus!

Stop the Virus!

I know I was supposed to write about why we as singles settle in terms of relationships, but Holy Spirit has given me this revelation that I must get out tonight. When God speaks, you better listen- that's what I say.

Anyways, about a week ago, I had a virus on my computer. I had no idea how it got there. One minute I am listening to music, the next day all these weird pop-ups started appearing telling me that I had a virus on my computer and I needed to buy their service to get it off. Well I knew from jump that the pop-ups were actually the virus, but I could not get rid of them. Here is where the lesson comes in.

I tried all these manual methods to try to get rid of the virus. All these different websites had step by step instructions (supposedly) on how to get rid of this particular virus. I even knew the name of the virus. So I am thinking, ok if I follow these steps it will be gone. Well, I stayed up all night (at least to 3am) following these painstaking steps to get rid of this virus for once and for all. Around 3 am I did not see any more pop-ups, I felt accomplished, I thanked God and I went to bed.

The next morning, I go to check my email, but really I am also going to check all the work I did last night, and as soon as I turn on my computer, I see another pop-up. What?! I stayed up for over 3 hours and the viruses were still there. That morning I found out that I actually did get rid of most of the viruses, but not all of them.

I was not pleased. You mean to tell me I stayed up for nothing?! So that's when I knew I had a problem that was bigger than me and my capabilities so I needed a professional. So I called a friend of mine who knows ALL about computers. He called me back and I told him my problem with the virus and that I needed it gone and I did not have the time, patience, or expertise to do it myself.

He started to explain to me that the most complete way to fix my problem was to strip my computer of everything that was on it by saving my important documents on his hard drive, and then put the computer in a safe mode where he can eliminate everything else from the computer.

He said that viruses normally spread and once one enters your computer, then others follow, and then eventually they will infiltrate your hardware on your computer.

He told me that once the computer was completely stripped, to put back the documents and programs that I wanted on the computer, as well as get a anti-virus program that will scan the computer.

To end this story, he did that and now my computer functions at full capacity!

I hope as you were reading this story, you see how this parallels our lives. Many of you desire different things in your life, whether it is to be married, to get a certain job, whatever. But sometimes, we as human beings, fall and miss the mark and sin.

Usually we try to initially deal with it ourselves, like I did. We try to find a way out for ourselves, or we seek advice from friends and family. That was me trying to follow the instructions off the computer. But get this key point- YOU CAN'T DO IT YOURSELF! There is no way we can fix our own mess-ups and neither can your friends or family. The only way you will ever get a complete healing is to go to the Father, who made you. You have to allow the Father to strip you of everything that you have known about yourself, which is no easy process.

The stripping process hurts, but in order to be elevated in God, we must all have to go through it at some point. It is a painful, but in order for God to use you, you have to get rid of all the flesh, the world, and the sin that so easily entangles us, so that He can have a vessel to use for His purposes. And the only way we can do that is by submitting to Christ and allowing Him to be Lord over our lives.

Notice though, that the Father strips you in "safe-mode." When the Father is stripping you, He puts you in a place, usually in isolation away from everyone else. He deals with you one on one. He does not broadcast your business to everyone. You are covered and protected because He is covering you with His wings and feathers.

But know that if I did not get rid of the virus completely that it would have continued to get worse. That is what happens to sin unaddressed. It multiplies. Why? Because each time we sin, we give the devil a foothold, a place to act in our lives. (Ephesians 4:27). And although, you may move on with your life, you still have this nagging pop-up that appears in your life. You think to yourself, I thought I got rid of anger, lust, fornication, abuse, low self esteem, but then another version of it appears in your life. That's what happens when you don't deal with the root of sin in your life.

The good news is that we have a Father, who is Lord over all viruses. He created everything in heaven and earth, so He knows how to get rid of them all. Complete healing and restoration only comes from the Father- not from ourselves or others, and He will wipe away every trace of mess that was in your life so that you are able to function in the full capacity that He created you to function in. Then you will begin to receive all the promises you are waiting for. God is the ultimate anti-virus program, and we need to utilize Him today so that we can walk in the high calling of Christ Jesus, not just for our lives, but our future spouses and children that are to come. Remember, they are waiting on you to get it together, so let's do this!

Thank You Jesus!

Kelli