Today was fantastic.
I recently said that if it were to thunderstorm, I would sit beneath the Statehouse and watch the lightening and the rain. Today I did just that.
The sky billowed with cauliflower shaped clouds that shifted silver, blue, gray and gold; the air was heavy with the promise of rain. I sat back against the side of the building and began to journal, adventuring through the book of Matthew. As rain started to fall, mist dotted the pages of my Bible so I shifted further under the cover of the building. Happily resettled, I glanced to my left and noticed thick spiderwebs that funneled like a static tornado down the intersection of the wall and door frame. Poised at the mouth of the web, a quarter sized brown spider peered back at me. Looking down the wall I noticed that there were several other webs and decided to take my chances where I was. Despite a little unease, I resolved not to be bothered and continued to write. "I sure hope you're not a brown recluse," I told the spider as I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. He recoiled slightly in response.
The scene was still peaceful, but the presence of the spider set me on edge. I looked at him often, and every time he moved, it commanded my attention. After a few minutes he ventured completely out of the funnel and way too close for my comfort. I puffed some air at him and quick as lightening he was back down the chute. Out of sight, but not out of mind.
I tried to tell myself the spider wasn't out to get me. Maybe he just wanted to enjoy the storm too… As he inched out of the funnel again, I warily watched, holding my breadth. To my alarm, after pausing for a second he bolted straight towards me! Over the web, and out onto the wall that would have led him straight to my shoulders! I shot another air bullet in his direction, which to my relief sent him back into the web. Then I dropped the largest artillery I could find – a half a matchstick- on top of the hole. The piece of wood stuck fast in the protective strands of webbing high above the entrance. Even though it didn't make contact, I thought it might be warning enough to keep him in hiding till I was finished reading.
It wasn't.
Within seconds he was on the edge of the web again, inches from my body, scrambling to find footing on the slick marble wall. In frustration I blew on him one last time before packing up my things. This spider had it out for me. Even if he wasn't poisonous, I was not waiting around to be bitten.
Somewhere in the middle of all this, the Holy Spirit started speaking to me through the illustration of the spider. He softly said, Michelle, you are like that spider, and how you feel right now, is how the demonic feels when you enter the room. Your very presence brings them great fear because I live in you.
The Lord continued to speak to my heart. The only reason you've stayed here this long is because you are confident that you could kill that spider if it came too close. It's a threat, but not a very big one. Now imagine that the spider was invincible and venomous. Do you think it would shrink back in it's web because you blew wind at it? If it wanted to attack, it would advance against you with boldness and confidence and your choices would be get bitten or leave.
You are invincible because I live in you and you will live forever with me. Nothing can separate you from my love and I have given you authority and power to destroy the works of the devil. When you walk into a room and encounter the demonic, advance with confidence because their only choice is to flee.
Today was such a beautiful reminder not to be afraid, and to wage war against the devil with boldness and confidence. I fight from victory, not towards it because of the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 6:12~ "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Colossians 2:13-15 ~ "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Bless you my friends!
I truly love you all,
~Chelle
