The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: DISTANCE (10/08/20)
EIGHTEEN INCHES

In one of his TV sermons, Dr. Charles Stanley mentioned that eighteen inches from your feet is where all your problems are solved. I didn't understand this until he dropped down on his knees. Then I realized that in the human anatomy the distance between the knees and the feet is about eighteen inches. This fact made me consider the importance knees and feet play in a Christians life.

Standing on my feet I am confident of my strength, courage and wisdom. I am proud of my free will and freedom of choice. I am in control. On my knees, I am humble, meek and submissive. I am willing to submit to God's will. I marvel at the fact that the distance between my will and God's will is only about eighteen inches. It would appear that crossing this distance would not be difficult. But in reality it is.

I remember that gigantic, giant of Gath, who arrogantly stood and challenged the Lord God of Hosts. Because he did not bend the knee down eighteen inches, he lost his life a to a pebble shot from the sling of a rosy - cheeked Jewish shepherd boy.

I remember Thomas, the Lord's disciple, who stubbornly refused to believe the other disciples when they declared that Christ had risen from the dead. Thomas had seen Jesus die. He had seen the mutilated and mangled body of his beloved Master as it was gently removed from the cross and placed in the tomb. He could not believe that such a broken body could be revived. But when Jesus stood before him and showed him His scars, Thomas fell down those eighteen inches in a moment, and on his knees humbly declared,"My Lord and my God".

I also remember the day I stood beside an open grave and watched my young husband's coffin being lowered into the earth. I was grief-stricken, angry, and rebellious, refusing to believe that God was kind and good. Later, Jesus met me at the altar one communion Sunday. I was physically kneeling but my spirit was rebelliously standing as the pastor placed the piece of bread in my palm. In the silence I heard a soft gentle voice say, " This is my body, broken for you, my child. How can you share in my brokenness if you refuse to be broken?" It took a moment for this truth to sink into my rebellious heart. When it did, my spirit knelt down and cried out in surrender, "My Lord and my God, " ( John 20:28) "What wilt thou have me to do." ( Acts. 9:6 )
God in His infinite mercy had helped me cross those eighteen inches .


Bible reference:
Goliath. I Samuel.17, 50.
Thomas. Acts. 20:24-29
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 205 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Lillian Rhoades 
10/15/20
So many wonderful illustrations of a dynamic, spiritual truth. You put the icing on the cake with your own personal story. The article flowed well, and certainly held my interest. Great application of the topic.

Well done.
Terry R A Eissfeldt 
10/15/20
Wonderfully told. Well done
Blessings and Gratitude
Barbara Culler 
10/16/20
Great job- and what a lesson from your own experience. I hope this places high!
Marlene Custer 
10/21/20
Your testimony is a blessing. When I first saw your title I thought it was going to be about the heart being 18 inches from our head.
Laura Manley
05/14/21
What a beautiful writing! I absolutely loved the reference of eighteen inches when we bow our knees. There were a couple of minor things that I will mention, but they certainly don't take away from the beauty of this writing. In paragraph one, "Christians" life should read "Christian's" life. In the second paragraph, you put a smile on my face when you referred to the "distance between my will and God's will is only eighteen inches." In the third paragraph, second line, the "a" needs to be removed and "rosy - cheeked" should read "rosy-cheeked." I must say too that I am sorry for the loss of your husband. This was a beautiful writing. I didn't read the other entries. They must have been outstanding because I felt this was a first-place winner.