The Balm of Gilead

              As I exercise in the morning, I often listen to gospel to help motivate me not to sit down.  Exercise is not my favorite thing to do; in fact, I consider it a necessary evil.  As I stretched, Karen Clark Sheard’s Balm in Gilead played on my Rhapsody.  Even though I listened to almost an entire playlist of various artists, it was her song that kept reverberating through my mind.  Whenever I have a song, a scripture, or phrase that continuously plays in my head, I know to pursue the Lord about it.  It is often His way of introducing a new conversation to me.  When I pay attention to the background noise in my heart, I am often gifted a nugget of revelation from the Lord.  So when I sat down to have coffee with the Lord this morning, I asked Him about the song.  He replied that He wanted to talk to me about some things that were on His heart this morning.

                I felt my heart sank.  As an intercessor, I often feel the Lord’s emotions when He is grieved about something.  I think that people think that the Lord is vengeful and wrathful and full of anger.  His wrath is real; make no mistake.  However, more often the Lord is sorrowful and grieved over the condition of the world—and the condition of Believers everywhere.  “Ok,” I said with resolve.  “What do you want to say?”

                The Lord did not hesitate.  “Renita there is a season of great acceleration that is coming for My people.  They will see great growth in their lives.  It is a year of Jubilee, and many will see Me hand move on their behalf for their needs. I will move many in this one season further than they could have ever gotten on their own in ten years.”

                “Well, that doesn’t sound bad at all.  You seem grieved.  Why is this grievous for you?”

                In response, the Lord led me to Jeremiah 8.  I read through the entire chapter, with my heart sinking as I poured over each word.  The Lord began to speak to me about the brokenness of His people, and how they have sought everything to manage their brokenness.  They have tried everything—that is, except Him.  He said many would not receive His best, because they were not willing to let go of their way of doing things.  In fact, this time of acceleration would be a blessing to many, but it would be a curse to others. He asked, “Renita, what is the entire Kingdom based in?”

                “Seed, time and harvest,” I replied immediately.  The Lord then said that there were those who had planted seeds of brokenness [sin, unrighteousness, control, bitterness, vindictiveness, unforgiveness, rebellion, etc.] that has taken root in them, and those seeds would harvest in this time of acceleration.   They would eat the fruit of their ways (Prov. 1:31). Literally, instead of seeing a time of Jubilee as they rested in the Lord, living off the harvests of seeds sowed in righteousness, they would experience a time of great brokenness.  “My people are sick, Renita”, He said. “They go to workshops, and retreats, they read self-help books, and seek relief from shamans, false prophets, and religious gimmicks” but they won’t come to Me.  They will not yield their ways, and their hearts to me to find healing redemption in Me.  Child, Is there no balm in Gilead?  Where is their physician?”  He led me to Isaiah 1: 6.  “⁶ From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness or health in [the nation’s body]—but wounds and bruises and fresh and bleeding stripes; they have not been pressed out and closed up or bound up or softened with oil. [No one has troubled to seek a remedy.] (AMP)”.  The Balm of Gilead was a salve that was known for its healing properties.  After the Israelites settled in the Promised Land, the Tribe of Gad who had settled in Gilead became well known traders in this healing oil because the trees that contained the base properties grow in abundance there.

“I am the Balm, Renita.  I am there Great Physician. Only I can bring them the healing that they need.” I would that My people would yield their hearts to Me, not only for salvation, but I want them to let Me be Lord.” 

“What must we do Lord, “I asked, including myself in the number.  I am need of that Balm too! “Lord, most of us, don’t really realize that we have made something an idol, or that we have not really submitted our lives to You. How do we know what we must yield to you?”

The Lord brought to mind a common refrain.  “Pay attention,” He said.  What is a recurring issue in your life?  Is it money? Is it relationships? Is it sexual sin, or compulsive behavior? Is it purpose or career? I call you out of darkness by irritating that which is holding you in bondage. When you identify those places Renita, first understand that they are only symptoms of a larger issue. In order for you to kill a weed, you can’t cut off the heads of the weeds, you must dig up the root.  You and My people must let Me get to the root of your issues so that I can heal you and then you can experience my best in your lives. It is a painful process, but when I heal you, you will be healed.  When I save I save you, you will be saved (Jeremiah 17:4).

I repent for those areas where I have not given the Lord access.  I call those places sin, and I yield those things to the Lord.  And for those places that I cannot muster the strength to yield I pray that He show me the truth, and that I allow that truth to make me free.  I pray that for my brothers and sisters in Christ—that we submit to the ministration of our Great Physician, and allow His healing oil to soothe our hearts.