Author Darlene J. Conard

I’ve often been guilty of going to bed, covering my head to the weight of discouragement. “I’m tired of dealing with this Lord.”

“Take up your bed and walk.” I’d turn over tightening the blankets around my body and pressing my head into the pillow. “Take up your bed and walk.” I slid the blankets over my head wrapping them tight around my head like a hood. As if that would block out those words. They became louder in my spirit, “Darlene, take up your bed and walk.” He would repeat the words until finally, I’d get up. “Read about the man who had no help getting into the pool of Bethesda.”

“Lord, You’ve spoken this to me many times. I’ve read it over and over.”

“Read it, again, listen, and be quiet.” So, I did. Too often we believe we’ve received all there is out of some events in the Bible. No, we will always get a deeper meaning out of it. That’s why the Word never dies or we will never get everything out of it at once.

Angels came to the pool of Bethesda during a certain season to stir healing waters. I’m sure of this that Jesus wasn’t there by chance. For thirty-eight years the lame man missed getting in. (John 5:1-15) Jesus asked a certain lame man a question. “Will you be made whole?”  

“Sir, I have no one to help me in the pool. When I do someone steps before me.” Jesus said, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” Immediately he did. The Jews resisted the act saying it was against the Sabbath law. Here’s what they missed.

My grandmother would guide me, “Darlene, when you go to bed meditate upon His word. He’ll speak to you. A bed in the Bible represents a place of meditation. Psalm 63:6-8 says, “When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.”

In the book Daniel 2:28, a bed is a place of meditation. God gave the king dreams. 1 Samuel 3:3, Samuel was lying in his bed when the Lord called him. He got up. Although Eli sent him to bed the Lord continued to call him out of his bed. He didn’t sleep because God wanted him to take the revelation and walk with it, put it into action.

When God gives us a revelation, He doesn’t want us to sleep on it. He wants us to take what we receive, hook our arms through it, and carry it on our backs.

The Lord is saying, “Take My promises write them on the tables of your heart to never forget. Take up your promise and walk. Because that promise has made you whole.

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