Gargoyle on My Shoulder

 

A Healing Testimony

 

By Ari Fry

Written June 1, 2007

 

 

The last weekend in May of 2007, the fatigue and dull pain in my neck had gotten so bad that I started becoming vocal about the inconvenience.  After several days of discomfort, I finally decided to go to God in prayer and put the aspirin down (not out of faith, but simply because it wasn’t working any longer). 

 

I went to prayer with the attitude that Christ had taken all of my suffering already (By his wounds we are healed. _{Isaiah 53:5}), so why was I being subjected to this pain?  I asked myself, is there any reason I am holding on to this pain? Any reason I’m allowing it to be in my body?  Any reason I would be forfeiting God’s healing power?  My first response was…that’s ridiculous!  Why would I want to live day in and day out with a headache?  I don’t like the pain.  I’m not big on sympathy.  What possible reason could I have for allowing my body to be tormented?  I searched my heart honestly, questioned my own motives and hidden reasoning and found an invader.

 

I had reasoned with myself that the cure to the neck pain was as simple as a spa day.  I deserved a spa day!  But not just because I wanted to pamper myself (that would be superficial), but because I truly was suffering.  Once I got some money, I could justify that large expense as a medicinal treatment. 

 

There it was hiding so deeply and surrounded by reason and justification.  So then it was a question, do you want to get well now, or do you want to be justified in treating yourself to a spa day?  Remember, if you’re well, there’s no reason why you couldn’t just go and enjoy a spa day, just because it’s a gift.

 

I chose wellness, gave thanks to God for the authority in Christ over illness and disease he has shared with all his children, bound Satan’s now unauthorized activity concerning me, let go of the reason and justification that Satan was using to gain access to my body, and commanded the spirit tormenting me to leave.  Within seconds, the pain was gone and my nose began to run, almost like toxic pollutants were being expelled from my body.  It felt like there had been this gargoyle sitting on my shoulder with his talon clamped through my neck; Christ’s authority released his grip, and he swooped off.

 

Refuting Reasonings – Worldly Motives

 

2 I entreat you when I do come [to you] that I may not [be driven to such] boldness as I intend to show toward those few who suspect us of acting according to the flesh [on the low level of worldly motives and as if invested with only human powers]. 3 For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons.  4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, 5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), [2 Cor. 10:2-5 Amplified]