Return To Me

Sharon Lackey

Return To Me

“Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the Lord of Hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 1:3

I will never forget the words the Lord Jesus Christ spoke directly to me through a sister in the Lord on a day I was talking to her about my oppression (depression). As tears welled up in her eyes, my friend looked at the ground, and while pointing to the ground she said, “Get up! I paid too high a price for you to just lie down and die!”

Oppression (depression) is a death sentence, and sadly, has become a way of life for many. Though feeling lifeless can be the result of medical or hormonal issues, oppression is often nothing more than the temptation of the enemy, and his attempt to draw us away from our Life Source. When we succumb to these feelings, we are embracing the self-life while denying the Spirit Life—the very Life of Christ within us. The horror I find in this is that we are no longer doing the will of Christ but the will of Satan himself (2 Timothy 2:25-26). Therefore, the problem is not resolved with a pill or anything else, because the problem is sin (flesh/self-life), and the only cure for the self-life is the Life of Christ.

“Therefore brethren, we are not debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Romans 8:12-13

By the Spirit, one is to put to death the deeds of the flesh, but if we are found walking after the flesh there is no power to deny the flesh, so we must first confess our sins and repent, returning to our Source of Life. Then once we are restored and again walking after the Spirit, we can now deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23).

“For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘in repentance [returning] and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength. But you were not willing, and you said, “No, for we will flee on horses,” ‘therefore you shall flee!’ “And we will ride on swift horses,” ‘therefore those who pursue you shall be swift. One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; you will flee at the threat of five until you are left as a flag on a mountain top and as a signal on a hill.’ “Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you, for the Lord is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him.” Isaiah 30:25-16

Did you notice that? The Lord longs for us to return to Him so that He may be gracious to us and have compassion on us. Returning is where Salvation and Rest are found. Salvation and Rest are not found in any other place.

I once read somewhere that when we become born-again Christians this world goes from being a playground to a battleground. We are engaged in battle every day, and our enemy is Satan and his demons. We dare not engage the enemy with our flesh; we will not win. He will destroy us. The enemy is all around us but is unseen because they are in the heavenly places (atmosphere), so the only way to engage the spirit world is through the Spirit of the Living God.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13

It’s time we return to our Father, put on the whole armor of God, take our stand daily against our enemies, and live the Life Christ intended for us live—The Abundant Life of Christ from the inside out!