Paralysis is defined as: a state of being unable to function, act, or move. As we navigate through the paths of life, there will be moments where our thoughts, actions, and senses will experience spiritual paralysis. A state of inactivity will settle into our everyday life. That is what the enemy desires. He desires to see Christians sedentary, which can lead to disobedience, discouragement, and discord.

Life is a continuous action and if we are not moving with it, life will gradually wear us down. We will become spiritually brittle and feeble, unable to complete the most basic tasks in our walk. The flesh yearns to be stubborn and lazy. This can lead to us distancing ourselves from God. Make no mistake, He does not leave us, we leave Him. Let’s explore three different ways to combat spiritual paralysis.

1. Pray Without Ceasing

Prayer is an action. An activity that must be habit-forming. I don’t know about y’all but if I do not set aside a certain time or place, it is just not happening. I am not referencing those fleeting moments of prayer. We are a busy generation unfortunately. Certainly you can notice the tone of your day shift, when you come boldly to the throne of grace and talk to your Creator. The One that formed you and knows every thought. To reverse the effects of spiritual paralysis, you must have a conversation with Him. The enemy is very cunning and will deceive you into thinking that because God knows your every thought, there is no need to come to Him with your prayers. Do not be deceived. This is a battle tactic Satan will use to paralyze you. Instead focus on God’s truths.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6

2. Let Your Love Shine

When we are spiritually paralyzed, it can be hard to love those around us. We are so focused on ourselves, we can not move about to see who needs our love. Please don’t misinterpret what I am conveying. I am a firm believer in self-care. But when we free our spiritual eyes, then we are able to see who needs love. Love that emanates Christ. Sometimes it can be hard to love ourselves. Again, this is a calculated move by the enemy. Our inability to love ourselves can trickle into other areas. We experience decreased energy, depression, irritability, and even anger. This can make it hard to love others. God gives us a choice everyday. Will we love or will we hate? It can sound harsh but warfare is unforgiving. Spiritual paralysis can be permanent, if we allow it. Let love be a call to action.

We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 1 John 4:19-21

3. Forgiveness 

Forgiving someone can be a hard pill to swallow. Pride and a grasp on the mentality,”I didn’t do anything wrong”, can cause your spiritual muscles to never heal from paralysis. Frozen in motion, a halt in your walk, unforgiveness is ruthless. It knows no bounds. Grudges are a stumbling block soaked in mental poison. They take you prisoner and paralyze any thought of reconciliation. I have found that when God softens my heart and it starts to beat for someone again, all the old hurt surfaces. The memories of true pain and perceived hurts. How can you ever be free, if you stay immobilized by an unforgiving spirit? Brothers and sisters, forgiveness frees us. You may never get an, “I am sorry”. Please do not waste precious time waiting for something that may never come. You can’t get that time back. Forgive and break the chains of spiritual paralysis.

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Colossians 3:13