This time of year people are talking about “zombies.” Karlton shares how we are always alive because of Christ’s gift to us–eternal life!
“He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.” (Luke 20:37-39)
When I was a young boy my mother took us to the drive-in theater. The movie playing was “Night of the Living Dead.” I’m not sure what my mother was thinking because the movie terrified me.
Even though I’m not a fan of zombies movies I must admit that I have often empathized with these characters. When I find that I am dragging myself through some store with my wife, shuffling along, all I’m missing is the moaning and groaning to fit the part. And when I find myself in a severe mental fog, essentially brain dead in front of the television, the word “zombie” seems to fit my situation.
Yet, despite feeling like a zombie on so many occasions, there is alive within every believer the Spirit of the living God. We are not dead, but alive through Him!
We may feel like we would fit in nicely on the set of a zombie movie, shuffling along through our lives, fighting through the mental fog to wake up our dead brains. But within every believer beats the heart of one touched by God, made alive through the blood of Jesus Christ.
In our culture zombies are popular right now, from movies to television series, there are even gatherings of people who get together dressed up and acting like zombies. But fellow believer, though you may sometimes feel like you are a zombie because of your physical or mental state, within you beats the living heart of a believer, and we serve a God who is very alive.
When you are feeling wiped out and worn out, when your mind feels more dead than alive, call upon the Lord, ask for His power and might to fill you, and for His Spirit to revive your dead life. We may sometimes feel like zombies,
but we are the living, breathing, loving children of a God who is very much alive, and because He is alive–so are we!
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to remember that even when we feel very dead inside, and worn and weary outside, that You are very much alive within us and living through us. Amen.
Does your affliction make you feel zombie-like? Do you feel like you are barely alive compared to those around you? Ask the living God to fill you with His power and presence.
About the Author:
Karlton Douglas lives in Ohio with his lovely wife. He still does not like zombies, even though he has sometimes felt like one because of his affliction.
Do you ever hear the worship songs and just feel nothing? Do you feel numb about all the holiness of God people speak of? This is an original worship song written with inspiration from Isaiah chapter one, and it’s called the “Tired Song.” -Lisa
This was me (a zombie) up until a couple of months ago. I am a spirit filled believer and believe in Devine healing but after praying for 6 years without relief I was losing hope. Through another devotional on rest ministries I learned that though what we get out of ‘life’ may be more than we can handle God will give us what we need to get through. Even Paul had a thorn in the flesh that he begged God to take away from him and Christ himself asked God to deliver Him from what he was about to go through, but both accepted Gods path for them, thank God. I began to ask God to show me how to serve Him in my limited capacity, He began to show me that how I dealt with these afflictions made an impact on others. Now I don’t have to put on a brave face, I am brave and He has restored my joy. He even blessed me with a ‘little’ healing, though it is huge to me. One of the side affects of this disease is that the joints in my ankles and feet had fused causing poor balance and forcing me to use a cane to keep from falling. A visitor at our church prayed over my feet and my ankles went pop and were instantly freed and over the next couple of weeks I sounded like a cereal commercial, as I walked the bones in my feet went snap, crackle and pop. Now I can point and flex my feet and stand on my toes and best of all I put away my cane. Am I still in pain? Yes, but whether I’m healed on this side of Heaven or not, He has shown me that I have a place in this life and that even though I am afflicted with pain, I can be used by Him, and I am of value, and most of all that He is walking every painful step with me.
Oh Karlton! Zombie is a perfect description of how I look most of the time! I smiled, laughed, teared up, sighed & “Amened” through your devotional. Thanks for the great reminder that “we are the living, breathing, loving children of a God who is very much alive, and because He is alive–so are we!” I really needed that great reminder today, as I prop open my eyelids with matchsticks! Thank you.
Kathy, praise God for your “snap, crackle & pop” healing! What a gracious Heavenly Father. Lotsoluv Kerryn
Kathy, thanks for sharing!
Blessings.
Karlton
Thank you Kerryn
Blessings.
Karlton
Karlton, I found this piece so refreshing and lovely.
Yes, there are times I feel Zombie-like and I’m grateful for the way you describe the truth about God (who is Life) living within us through His Spirit and making us alive, even when we don’t feel much like it. I have a phrase I occasionally use that describes how most of us here feel at times, “like death warmed over”. It’s a bit humerous, but not a fun place to be.
I’m so thankful to the Lord for giving me periods of time when I feel very much alive, despite how my brain may be working and my body may be feeling. He’s so good!
Thanks Beth! Those days when we feel alive are precious
Blessings.
Karlton
Kathy, you have a beautiful testimony. I wish you the best as you continue along the path God has chosen for you. Isn’t it great to know that someday we’ll understand His unique plan for each of us and be full of joy because of it?!
Blessings,
Beth
Beth, I too have days where I feel like death warmed over, today being one of them, we have a cold front coming through. I just try to remember, or have precious friends to remind me that through my weakness He is made strong. So tonight I’m walking by faith, taking an extra pain pill and going to bed…God bless you, I love each and every one of you. Good night dear friends.
Karlton – you surely hit a nerve with this devotional – a nerve of recognition!
Oh – the daze on most days is surely well described.
Perhaps, (as you so well expressed), since we have the Spirit of the Living God within us we are Zombies with a capital “Z” – elevated by His grace even when we feel we are walking this earth with “zombies” yet to know the help He can give.
Thanks for all you share.
Lynn
Hi all,
I couldn’t say it better than all of you have re this post. I am surely in the “zombie state” this last year and can relate to all of your words and feelings.
And, Karlton, this is too strange that you used this movie as part of your post, as I was born and raised in the tiny little town where some of it was made!! In fact, my husband and I were just there a few weeks ago to attend my 50 th high school reunion in Evans City. Penna. We always go to the Evans City Cemetery, founded in 1891, to visit all my family buried there. May seem strange to say, but it is a beautiful place, with a country curvy tree lined road up the hill to it where my parents look over the top of a hill down onto part of my little hometown. There is still a little stone shed there at the top of the road that is in bad repair but which I think was used in the movie. I do not remember the movie being made but then I was not interested in ” zombie movies” either. In a small town, you would think it would be the talk of the town, I would have been in my 20′s, but no memory, same problem now, ha.
Anyways, just a bit of funny trivia to add to the mix.
Thank you, as always, Karlton, for your wise and encouraging thoughts. Thank God , He is living and breathing in us, through this journey we are all on together. Praise His name!!
Blessings ,
Patty
Thank you Lynn! I like that zombies with a capitol Z
Blessings.
Karlton
Patty, that is some interesting trivia indeed! Can’t say I would want to visit that town though
Blessings.
Karlton
Lynn: Trust you to think of something like that. And I think somehow that the way you Americans pronounce the “Z” (Zee) fits it better than our Canadian “Z” (Zed)!! LOL