CPR For The Suffocating

I have had CPR.

Thankfully, not the kind you're thinking of, but spiritually speaking, I've needed CPR on multiple occasions.

It's been as recently as just a few weeks ago. 

Let me describe what I mean and see if you can say the same thing yourself.

My guess is that you can.

The days leading up to my need for CPR had been long and heavy.  Doubt had crept in again.  As I grew more weary, situations and fears were draining me of hope and it was if my spirit could not get a breath.  Tears flowed down my cheeks as I quietly said to myself, "I can't do this, anymore.  It's too hard."  The suffocation was taking its toll.

The thought did come to mind as I drove down the dark windy road that time with God would help, and on cue, the enemy voiced his opinion telling me that it didn't matter any way.  I would just feel like this again in a few days.

That, my friends, was where an intentional decision had to be made.  I could agree with Him or I could agree with the Spirit who had prompted me to spend time with the Father.

Recognizing this battle for what it was,  I resolved to carve out time that evening for alone time with God. Real, significant, alone time.  I would not give in and allow satan to capture my mind for another moment.  It is not his to have.  If I felt my life was fading away, I must go to the One who gives me life.

When someone performs CPR on another, the purpose is to revive them.  They need to be resusictated.  They give them rescue breaths and, if needed, they do chest compression to make their heart beat.  Without the help of someone trained in CPR, a life could be lost unless they are revived. 

God does that for us.  He offers CPR for the suffocating.

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The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. --  Psalms 19:7 NLT

His instructions revive my soul.  It's as if He breathes new breath into my lungs, and sets my heart beating again at times like these.  Time with Him and time in His word did revive my soul and always does, it's a promise we can rely on.  However, just as a rescuer has to position the victim so that he can perform CPR, I must be positioned to receive it myself.  Had I not positioned myself so that He could perform CPR, I would not have been revived.  Had I listened to the enemy's suggestion, my pit would have been dug even deeper.  The feeling of suffocation would have gotten stronger.  The hopelessness fed.

So what do we do when we feel like we are suffocating?

1.  Recognize the symptoms. We tend to think we are "in a mood", and sometimes we are, but often, we are under attack from the enemy.  These situations often occur when: 
     A. life has demanded alot from us and we have been stretched to get everything done. 
     B. there has been a season of strife and/or discord in our lives or in the lives of those who are close to us.
     C. something doesn't work out the way we thought it would or the way we thought would be best and we don't understand why.

2.  Make an intentional decision to agree with the Spirit and reject the suggestions of the enemy.

3.  Carve out the time.  It doesn't take much.  He knows how urgent your need for life is.

4.  Position yourself for His life saving breath.  Get your sword, the Word of God, and get to His feet.  We have to be positioned for His breath, He won't force it upon you. 

5.  Just breathe Him in and allow your heart to beat again.

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