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| photo credit: graur codrin/freedigitalphotos |
Today, I’m talking about smothering.
In my Howdunit Forensics: A Guide for Writers, D.P. Lyle says, “Smothering
occurs when some external device prevents air from entering the nose or
mouth.”
Last week week
started the series on spiritual asphyxiation. You can read part 1 on
Environmental Suffocation, HERE.
started the series on spiritual asphyxiation. You can read part 1 on
Environmental Suffocation, HERE.
A few months ago, I
had a dream. Not a Martin Luther King Jr. kind of dream. A nightmare, actually.
Now, I don’t think every dream is a spiritual dream. Sometimes it’s the fault
of the pizza I ate.
had a dream. Not a Martin Luther King Jr. kind of dream. A nightmare, actually.
Now, I don’t think every dream is a spiritual dream. Sometimes it’s the fault
of the pizza I ate.
But this was.
I was in the
concrete basement of my childhood home. Washing clothes. The smell of must, lack of light, and
the chilled air from being underground didn’t seem to bother
me.
concrete basement of my childhood home. Washing clothes. The smell of must, lack of light, and
the chilled air from being underground didn’t seem to bother
me.
I pulled a towel
from the dryer when the hairs on my neck stood on end. Paralyzing fear held me
in place, my eyes bugged out searching for the source of terror. But I saw
nothing.
from the dryer when the hairs on my neck stood on end. Paralyzing fear held me
in place, my eyes bugged out searching for the source of terror. But I saw
nothing.
An uncommon cold
settled down my spine and I before I had the chance to process anything, a bony arm came
out from behind me. I knew the only shot I had to survive was to scream out the
name of Jesus.
settled down my spine and I before I had the chance to process anything, a bony arm came
out from behind me. I knew the only shot I had to survive was to scream out the
name of Jesus.
Jesus saves.
“Je–” My
words cut off as the claw-like hand snapped over my mouth and held my
speech prisoner. I couldn’t breathe.
words cut off as the claw-like hand snapped over my mouth and held my
speech prisoner. I couldn’t breathe.
I panicked. My heart
didn’t beat out of my rib cage, the fear was too great, I think it seemed to
stop beating altogether. Only buzzing between my ears.
didn’t beat out of my rib cage, the fear was too great, I think it seemed to
stop beating altogether. Only buzzing between my ears.
I heard something.
“You don’t have to speak to say My name.” Like a thought answering me
back.
“You don’t have to speak to say My name.” Like a thought answering me
back.
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| photo credit: Salvatore Vuono/freedigitalphotos |
All I knew was I had
to get to Jesus. So I raised my hands, and like I’d been taught in Sunday school when singing Jesus Love Me, dropped the towel and brought my middle finger to
the palm of my left hand and then repeated it with my right. Back and forth,
wildly. Sign language.
“Jesus!
Jesus!” my mind and hands cried out.
Jesus!” my mind and hands cried out.
My eyes flew open
and I was in my bed, still in the dark. My husband slept peacefully beside me.
Sweat drenched my body and the slivers of fear from the dream still clung to
the standing hairs along my neck.
and I was in my bed, still in the dark. My husband slept peacefully beside me.
Sweat drenched my body and the slivers of fear from the dream still clung to
the standing hairs along my neck.
Could I speak?
“Jesus,” I whispered. “Jesus…Jesus…”
“Jesus,” I whispered. “Jesus…Jesus…”
“…One form of homicidal smothering is
when the assailant places a gag or tape over the victim’s mouth or nose…”
D.P. Lyle, M.D
when the assailant places a gag or tape over the victim’s mouth or nose…”
D.P. Lyle, M.D
Anytime the enemy can shut your mouth, pinch your nose
and keep you from calling on God, he’ll do it. It’s called homicide for
a reason. He lurks and waits for an opportunity. In my dream, I was doing the
mundane. Housework. I wasn’t expecting a vicious attack. And I certainly wasn’t
expecting one up close and personal.
and keep you from calling on God, he’ll do it. It’s called homicide for
a reason. He lurks and waits for an opportunity. In my dream, I was doing the
mundane. Housework. I wasn’t expecting a vicious attack. And I certainly wasn’t
expecting one up close and personal.
“Be sober, be
vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour 1 Peter 5:8.”
vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour 1 Peter 5:8.”
Homicidal Smothering looks like this:
You’re diagnosed
with a terminal illness or someone you love is, a loved one dies leaving you
alone, you’ve been victimized, your house burns to the ground, a spouse is
unfaithful, a child becomes addicted to drugs…
with a terminal illness or someone you love is, a loved one dies leaving you
alone, you’ve been victimized, your house burns to the ground, a spouse is
unfaithful, a child becomes addicted to drugs…
The
enemy slides his bony claws in from behind and puts a gag of fear around your
mouth and nose.
enemy slides his bony claws in from behind and puts a gag of fear around your
mouth and nose.
Fear will keep you
from Jesus. It’ll slowly suck the life out of you. Suffocating you. Fear breeds
doubt. Fear builds walls. Fear sometimes means flight.
from Jesus. It’ll slowly suck the life out of you. Suffocating you. Fear breeds
doubt. Fear builds walls. Fear sometimes means flight.
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| photo credit: Simon Howden/freedigitalphotos |
All
you need is Jesus. When you don’t think you have the breath in you to call on
Him, He’ll get creative so you can.
you need is Jesus. When you don’t think you have the breath in you to call on
Him, He’ll get creative so you can.
You can trust Him to get you through the scary
times. You can trust Him to loose the hold the enemy has on you and pull you
from the dark basement you feel trapped in. You can trust Him to carry you
through the nightmare, to wake you up and still be there beside you, holding
your hand–kissing the palm, showing you His. You’re safe. Always safe.
times. You can trust Him to loose the hold the enemy has on you and pull you
from the dark basement you feel trapped in. You can trust Him to carry you
through the nightmare, to wake you up and still be there beside you, holding
your hand–kissing the palm, showing you His. You’re safe. Always safe.
Have you ever felt like the enemy was suffocating you? How did you get through it?
I’m over at Living By Grace, a facebook community for women!
Come by and chat.
