Stranded: to bring into or leave in a helpless position.
Stranded: A word that can bring thoughts of hopelessness, insecurity, or just plain fear. I have experienced that feeling, but I have decided not to let it dictate my direction.
As a child I had this reoccurring nightmare. I would be in the living room and a gigantic snake would come through the picture window and wrap around my neck suffocating me to death…and I would have no way to escape or call for help.
God brought major clarity regarding this dream through a dean of mine when I was in ministry school. I will never forget it. See, snakes symbolize the enemy. It was as if the enemy was literally trying to snuff me out…kill me, and cause me to think I had no way of escape…no way to call for help. Now realizing this, that nightmare literally lost its power. It also helped me realize when things are happening around me, there is a reason behind it.
So this past week, I've been dreaming a lot. Many people have told me that my dreams are a gift from God but it's one of those gifts you ask God why in the world He had to give it to you. Anyway, I was dreaming and some of those dreams were simply not of God. The enemy was toying with my head and I finally got sick of it. One day, I prayed. I boldly asked the Lord to only let His dreams function in the night-to penetrate my subconscious, mind, body, soul, and spirit with His presence and His words alone.
First night after that was great…then there was last night.
I had another dream but this time, it caught me off guard. I was stranded on this island with other people. Something had caused a bunch of fish…and snakes…to wash ashore. Now bear with me because it gets a little weird but I promise there is a point. It was if the fish and snakes had been knocked unconscious but when this one huge snake came to, the first thing it laid eyes on was me…and this thing had it out for me. I booked it man…when I woke up I thought to myself boy, I hope I could run that fast in real life. I was seriously booking it. Well, when I finally reached a group of people they must not have understood that this thing was after me and all they would say is, if you are so concerned pick up a fish and throw it at it. It will devour that instead. So I'd do just that. I would pick up a fish, chuck it at this snake, and take off running again. Needless to say, it would start to take interest in the fish but decide to keep on after me.
So, needless to say, that made for a rough awakening this morning. I woke up, memories of the previous snake nightmare flooding my mind. All I could do was pray. Father, what is it that you are trying to show me?
Throughout the day, God has continued to be faithful. He reminded me that the enemy is always after my life. He is always going to want to snuff me out. He does not want me advancing the Kingdom. Well, I've got news for him. I didn't ask his permission. I will not ask his permission. In my dream, the last thing I remember was I was running. I was not running backwards looking at the snake, I was running away from it. In life, I do not run backwards, looking at my past and at the enemy trying to catch me so he can snuff me out. No, I look towards the prize. I look into my Father's eyes and remember that it is by His strength…His grace…and His mercy…and love and forgiveness alone that I live each day in freedom and victory. I won't be snuffed out because the enemy is not my focus. My eyes are on and must remain on the prize…end of story!
This week has been tough. I haven't gotten any donations yet, my first deadline is two months away and I have to have $3,500 in my account. Not to mention, my initial donation got messed up and I could go on and on and on with things that are attempting to snuff out my joy however, like I said, I chase toward the Father's face. I want to be face to face with my Lord. I want to see the fire that burns deep within His eyes. I want to breathe what He breathes and I want to speak what He speaks. My eyes are on the prize…and no matter what comes my way, nothing, absolutely nothing will prevent me from pressing onward for “none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
