7... God's divine number for COMPLETION AND PERFECTION...

The enemy never stops!!! He roams around all day and all night looking to trip you up.... looking to cast doubt and fear in your mind. And believe me, I have felt and heard all the negative and scare-tactics he can throw my way, not just during this part of my journey, but all my life. The lies go on and on and on....

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour...

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy...

Any joy, any faith, any positive outlook on life - anything - he will destroy - he has one goal, destroy us - separate us from our Father's love.
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Three weeks after my surgery, we went in for my follow up appointment. My shoe-loving surgeon walks in with her upbeat happy self and asked the normal "how are you" questions. She told us about the pathology report which came back unclear as to whether or not I would need chemo-therapy. And I'm thinking, "I don't need chemo-therapy. What is she talking about?" She and my husband proceeded to talk medical jargon, and I hear the phrase "onco-type"... and I decided to check in and out of the conversation at this point.

I use a lot of word and picture association to lock things in to my memory for re-call later. I also use a lot of humor to not only receive information but also for memory purposes.

So I hear the word Onco and I immediately make a word association - Uncle. And I busted out laughing in my head thinking, "Uncle who? Who's uncle wants to test my breast tissue? And why?"

Then she walked out and I looked at my husband and said, you know this is a scare-tactic by the enemy. He is so upset at the news we received from the surgery, so upset at the celebration and the praise-report about the faithfulness of God, he has to distract us and yet try once again to instill fear in us. Then I said to him, whatever this test is, I will get the lowest score EVER!

My husband, who researches everything, said that anything over a score of 16 means I would need chemo.

Two weeks later I got the call with the score, and I got a 7! Per my surgeon, this is the second lowest score she has ever seen!!!

My response to the enemy: HA! TAKE THAT LOSER!!!

Not only did my score come in under 16, but I received a 7. What's the significance you ask?

7 is God's divine number for COMPLETION AND PERFECTION! I am perfect and complete in the eyes of my Father. He has set His seal upon me. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

I only gave you the first half of the John 10:10 scripture above.

...(Jesus said) I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.

Christ came not just so that we will have life - He wants to give us a more abundant life. We don't have to listen to the enemy and the nonsense he spouts daily - We need to listen to what God is telling us -

We are perfectly created in His own image.

His love for us is an unconditional love. A love so pure that we can NEVER earn it on our own - not by our good works, not by any material possession we have, or how much we put in the offering plate, or how many times a week we are good to someone, or how many soup kitchens we volunteer at. God loved us first even with all our many faults, He did not want to be separated from us - so He allowed His one and only begotten son to die a horrible death so that I can sit here today and declare complete healing and restoration over my body.

We are overcomers. I can do all things through Christ... (Philippians 4:13)

His compassion fails not, His mercies are new every morning... (Lamentations 3:22-23)

We are the righteousness of God, through Christ Jesus.

I can go on and on...

I choose to listen to the soft, sweet whispers of my Heavenly Father. Every time I hear the enemy's lies and words of defeat, I immediately counter it with the promises of God. I wish I could say that this is how I have always been. Unfortunately, it is something I have had to learn. It's not easy, but it can be done. Oh and, it's an on-going process...

Now it is your turn - Who's voice do you choose to listen to?

God bless your day today and always,

Aloha!