PANDAS D/O & The Wall

Did you know that part of the definition of REST means: A device used as a support. I pause and smile as I read this: "The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms." Deuteronomy 33:27 HE IS MY REFUGE...MY...REST....MY SUPPORT....MY GOD!

For the past several...several months our son has been struggling. It has been 6 years since he was d/o with Autism. He has come so far and has accomplished so much. I stand in awe. It was a shock to us when he began to regress. When his days were filled again with crying as he became anxious, sad and he began to have "ticing" episodes that would happen within his sleep.

He reverted back into his world and there wasn't anything I could do, but pray. He would come to me, put his head on my arm and ask me to pray for him. He would ask me "what's wrong with me?"

After months his neurologist, through testing, found out that he has PANDAS D/O. Now begins treatment...and a long, long journey ahead. Each day I share with him his life verse in Joshua 1:9. Each day I claim that verse as well...along with Isaiah 43:2.

I was reminded of something I wrote after Joshua had been diagnosed. Wanted to share it with you.

WHAT IS YOUR "WALL OF JERICHO"?
By Angel Thompson
TRUE INTIMACY
All rights reserved
Copyright Year: © 2005
Published by Unleashing Potential Ministries
ISBN: 1-4116-3274-5

It has been a year since Joshua was diagnosed with Autism. At that time the world seemed to stop and the future for our son seemed blurry. Today, as I reflect back upon Joshua's journey so far in the world of Autism, I am reminded of another man's battle. They both share some things in common. His name was also Joshua and he was commissioned by God to take the city of Jericho. "Jericho was shut up like a drum because of the People of Israel: no one going in, no one going out. God spoke to Joshua, "Look sharp now. I've already given Jericho to you…" Joshua 6:1,2
So what did Joshua do? He believed and trusted what God said. He knew the character of God and he knew who he was in God. The only thing that lay between Joshua, the people of Israel and Jericho was a wall. God gave Joshua step by step instructions on how to conquer this wall.
First: March around the city once with the priests blowing on their horns. He told them to do this for 6 days.
Second: On the seventh day they were to walk around the city walls seven times with the priests blowing their horns. On the seventh round when the priests sounded their horns the people were to, "Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!"
Third: Take the city.
You are thinking, "That's a really nice story, but how does it apply to my life?" Brothers and sisters, we all have walls in our lives. Some walls are in the form of a disorder, like our son's and then there are walls built from the sin in our lives. Do you realize that through Christ we have been given freedom over the "city of death"? "
"For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." Romans 6:6-7
Now you are thinking, "What walls?" Those things that keep you from having a full and intimate relationship with the Lord and that keep you from healthy relationships with others. Those walls could be hatred, bitterness, a negative attitude, lusting, coveting, doubting, excessive worrying, pride, greed…to list a few.
So, what are the steps we need to take to fight the walls in our lives?
First: Trust God. If you don't know His character or who you truly are in Him, seek counsel through your Pastor or a Christian Counselor.
Second: Walk around those "walls". How? Spend time reading the Bible, the guidebook to break down those walls. Here are a few: Galatians 5:1; Philippians 4:ll-13; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:31-37; 12:3; 1 Corinthians 14:33; 2:12; John 16:33; 2 Timothy 1:7; Psalm 1; James 4:7; Psalm 51; 1 John 1:4-10. Also, continue applying the first step.
Third: Even when the day seems hard and the light seems far away, "take the city"! In other words, claim the victory He has promised you.
"…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39
The walls our son faces everyday is a disorder that daily God is helping Joshua fight to break them down through our prayers and therapy.
What are your walls? No matter if they are from a disorder or sin, the same simple steps apply. Trust God, for your life is precious to Him. Walk around your walls through reading His Word and seek Christian counsel, and don't forget to take the city. He has given you the keys.
"Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." Galatians 4:6,7