“I will walk with you through the winters when the snow is on the branch. In the warming winds, when the crocus pierces thin crusts of Earth, I will walk with you. When my steps are light and the birds sing of morning’s first kiss I will take your hand. And when I see the nights turn cold and I close the door against the bracing wind, God will give us Grace, still. Grace to go on. Grace to link arms; to tread the waters of time. Still, to walk on.”

The above word is from a poem I wrote in 2003. It was a poem I wrote for my husband, a promise that no matter what the future holds or what the ravages of time may bring, I would never cease to walk with him and would believe God for His Grace to walk through every winter and every wind.

As I re-read this little poem today I realize that it was not only a word of promise to my husband but also to God. It is a promise to trust in His Grace. …no matter what. I believe Him to help me to trust Him in difficult times…when I am weak.

There are many powers operating throughout the world today. As always, the powers of darkness and evil intend destruction and death upon the people of God. Their desire is always to abort the seed of God’s word and to cause destinies to be swallowed by the power of the grave. This is why the enemy of our souls has come, literally to “kill, steal and destroy” (John 10:10)

A few days ago I had a powerful vision. God showed me a large grave. It was the size of a swimming pool. He placed me at the very edge of this enormous grave. He said, “Speak to the power of the grave”. I heard myself begin to speak in this vision. I spoke to the power of the grave to hear the word of the Lord and I said these words, “ God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave for He will receive me.” (Ps. 49:15) Then I spoke the same words over the entire body of Christ.

It is God’s desire to resurrect destinies and dreams that have been aborted and have fallen into the grave. This is the “power” of the grave. It is a seducing power; it is a subtle power laced with thoughts of doubt, fear and unbelief. There is a place deep inside the heart of each one of us that is a “grave”, a place where we have buried dead hopes, dreams and destinies.

God said, “SPEAK to the power of the grave. Tell my people to speak to the power of the grave. Speak my word over it for have I not said ‘I will redeem your soul from its power”.

Truly, we “overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, loving not our lives unto the death” ( taken from Rev. 12:11…(my paraphrase)

There is victory untold in that scripture!

When we speak to the stronghold of unbelief, doubt and fear…. we are literally speaking to the “power of the grave” for these are the very things that have dug that grave! We have the “blood of Jesus”, our salvation, and our deliverance from OURSELVES that has been given to set us free to follow our faith in all that Christ is! And “loving not our lives unto the death” is not always about physical martyrdom! Sometimes it is about simply not allowing the “dearness” of our lives to overshadow the love of Christ.

This scripture brings release and overcoming victory if we can but understand it , believe it, and live it!

We, as Christians, all go through “fiery trials”.

We can trust Him with our very lives. We can trust Him with all that is “dear” to us; with the preciousness of our loved ones and all our tomorrows.

We can know that “to the very extent we partake of Christ’s sufferings, when His Glory is revealed we may also be glad with exceeding joy!” (I Peter 4:11-13)

This means we will also enjoy the Glory of God to the same extent we suffered with Christ! What a promise! What a hope!

This is the very riches of His glory! This is the very mystery of God that He wills to make known to us and it is this:

Christ in US…the HOPE OF GLORY! (Colossians 1:26-28)

Christ in US…. Look in the mirror, believer! Christ is in you! Don’t walk away from that mirror and speak doubt, fear or unbelief! Don’t allow the “power of the grave” to overtake your thoughts! Remember that Christ dwells in you. He is not simply “using” you like someone “uses” a napkin! You are his beloved tabernacle. He has made residence in you and will bring you into the knowing of His Glory!

We have been given the power to speak God’s word by the Holy Spirit to every enemy of our souls.

Believe it! God will give us grace when we see the nights turn cold. He will give us Grace to go on, to link arms. …Still.

Article is copyrighted by Sondra Stallman.
May not reprint without permission from author.