Sallie Dawkins

The enemy of God is our enemy, too, and he is far craftier and more subtle than we realize. He desires to slip into our thoughts; if we’re not careful, he’ll go unnoticed.

Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ assumes that we have some measure of awareness of the enemy’s schemes.

Second Corinthians 10:4-6 (TLB) tells us, “I use God’s mighty weapons, not those made by men, to knock down the devil’s strongholds. These weapons can break down every proud argument against God and every wall that can be built to keep men from finding him. With these weapons I can capture rebels and bring them back to God and change them into men whose hearts’ desire is obedience to Christ. I will use these weapons against every rebel who remains after I have first used them on you yourselves and you surrender to Christ.”

As you know, “taking every thought captive” is a daily battle. And yet…

A few months ago, I decided to start taking better care of my body. Trading in junk food for healthier options seemed like a good idea. Still, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, I found myself battling extreme pain, fatigue, and sleeplessness. I commanded that pain to go, in Jesus’ Name!

But it didn’t go.

I started repenting and renouncing, standing on the Word of God. Still, the pain didn’t go away.

I apologized to my body for pushing it so hard and failing to honor or listen to what it wanted to communicate. The pain relented.

For weeks, my body screamed at me until two things happened.

A stranger contacted me to say she had read my testimony, and she marveled at how my story of healing was so similar to hers. Her words were good for my dry bones. Psalm 119:157 (KJV) says, “Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.” Sometimes, I think God had me write out the story of my testimony for my own benefit because He knew I would continually need to be reminded of His goodness and faithfulness. Psalm 119:167 says, “My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.”
 

A dozen weeks of relenting pain and my confessions were compromised. That’s the truth, and I’m not proud of it.
 

The other thing that happened was entirely unexpected. One morning, as I was talking with a friend by phone, I started sneezing… a lot! It wasn’t a matter of deliverance, but it brought deliverance. My friend said she thought it might be an allergic reaction. All I’d had that morning was water with lemons. I’ve had lemon water before and never had a reaction, but just in case she was right, I stopped drinking all lemon water. Within four days of making this one change, I’d lost eight pounds of inflammation, and my joints no longer felt like they were rubbing on shards of glass. For the first time in three months, I could sleep all night.

Ephesians 1:7-9 (NKJV) says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself.” And we know that God’s will is for us to prosper and be in good health even as our soul prospers (3 John 2). Yet, Amos 3:3 asks, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”

For the past week, I have been piecing things together with God. I’m asking Him to show me the signs I missed and to teach me to partner with Him in recovery.

For the past decade, I’ve primarily focused on spiritual warfare, but now I’m learning to see health as belonging to body, soul, and spirit. “Salvation” means “saved, HEALED, and delivered!”

I’ve started journaling my body’s reactions to certain foods. I’m learning more about nutrition, how to support a healthy gut microbiome, how to re-regulate emotions when triggers or buttons have been activated, and learning (again) to battle from a place of rest in the finished works of Christ.        

If you’re reading this and you’re experiencing a similar struggle, I want to remind you that there is a beginning and end to every season.

The target is not on your back; it’s on the enemy’s head. The enemy is disarmed, defeated, and under your feet, in Jesus’s Name.

Stay strong in the Lord and the truth of His Word. Take every thought captive, and watch the confessions of your mouth. Keep your eyes on Jesus and your heart right with God, inviting Him to be Lord over every area of your life.  

Don’t be too proud to admit when you need help. There are many gifts of healings (1 Corinthians 12:28). Seeing a doctor doesn’t mean you don’t believe in the healing power of God but use discernment. It’s better to get to the root of dis-ease rather than simply treating symptoms.  

Phone a Spirit-filled friend when you need someone to talk you down from the ledge and don’t isolate yourself. Surround yourself with Godly believers who pray according to the Word.

Pain isn’t from God, but He’ll use it for our good and His glory.

When I asked the Lord how many times He would heal me, He replied that it was once and done for Him. Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Still, He said He’d remind me of His Word on the matter as many times as it takes for me to believe and receive the fullness of His healing. If you’re a child of God, healing is the “children’s bread,” which we receive as we sit at the Master’s table (Matthew 15:25-27).

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.