When we first arrived in Ella, Sri Lanka we stayed at a place just outside the city, about 15 minutes away by tuk-tuk. The second day we asked the Lord to provide a place to stay in the city. Later that day, we met a lady who was willing to work with our budget. The place we found is beautiful and up a hill inside the city. So every day you have to walk up and down a lot of stairs (over 100 stairs to be exact).
We start our day in prayer asking the Lord for direction and then we head to town to do what we have been lead to do. On this day, I had to pick up my laundry and drop it off in my room before I started my day in town. I was walking down the stairs to meet my teammates that were waiting for me at the cafe at the bottom of the stairs. I was walking down the stairs like every other day, but this time I was almost to town when I felt like I should look down, and to my surprise was a huge snake coiled to strike. Its head was a foot off the ground and the sides of its face were fanned out like a cobra. I stood still and began to pray when all I wanted to do was run for my life while screaming, because I hate snakes. I glanced up the last flight of stairs in hope that a local would be there and could come and kill this snake for me. But there was no one, it was just me, God, and this snake. In that moment I knew I had to take authority over that snake in Jesus name. I began to demand it go the opposite direction of me. (Because I did not want it to slither by me)
After a minute or two of praying, quoting scripture, and putting my trust in God, the snake relaxed and slithered away. I then ran the opposite direction up the flights of stairs as fast as I could and into my teammates room. Freaked out for a second because of my fear of snakes, then calm down by praying. When I calmed down I was amazed to realize that this snake had coiled to strike, but didn’t. This could only have been the Lord’s protection.
After a little more prayer, my teammate Heidi walked down the stairs with me. I needed to overcome my fear of what could be waiting for me on the stairs and go into town to do what was needed for the day. As I was walking down the stairs I quoted every scripture I could think of and prayed the whole time. I can now walk up and down the stairs easily because I will not let fear rule my life.
I spent some time talking with the Lord about this and I asked Him where He was in this situation. He said “I was standing in front of you as your shield to protect you”. The devil knew one of my fears for this trip was seeing a snake and he tried to use that to keep me from doing what I was here to do. What the devil intended as evil, the Lord turned for my good, by protecting me and showing me how He is watching over me. My part is to trust Him and listen to His still small voice.
I never looked down previously when I walked across that little walk way but this time I was impressed to and I found that snake ready to strike. I am reminded of the verse in Psalms 91:13-14 that says, “You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. Because he loves me, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledge my name”.
Things I learned
1. I am never alone and God is with me always to protect me.
2. Prayer is powerful and it should be our first reaction in times of trouble.
3. I have learned to watch the ground while walking.
4. My trust in the Lord is deeper. He was the only person who could help me in that situation and I knew He would.
5. That I will not let fear control my life and let the devil win.
