This month, the Holy Spirit used 3 events to point me towards the same Truth:
The Lord will fight for you.
THE NINJA
This month I battled the curse of the wandering mind: future things, things I’d rather be doing, people I miss, ideas I’m pondering. I confessed to my teammates in the attempt to stay accountable. That’s when I started to imagine a warrior, who sliced away un-welcomed thoughts, like fruit ninja. Every time an unnecessary thought popped up, I’d chop it away. This worked for a couple days, but the thoughts kept flying. Although I cut them away, I did not replace the space with light or truth. And that makes the difference between effectively taking thoughts captive and delaying (and therefore, prolonging) the lies.
The renewal of the mind is not something we can do on our own strength (with or without a dinky ninja). Romans 12:2a says, “be (not do) transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Another version says, “let God transform your mind.” We need an encounter with the Living God who conquered the grave and holds to keys to life and death. Surely, he will continue fighting for us. “… Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
(Romans 12:2b)
I’m so tired of trying so hard, all the time. I must take refuge in God’s armor and strength.
THE PROPHET
Early this month, I met an Englishman who picked me out of a crowd. “I must pray for you right now. Can I lay hands?” He said that God was asking him to pray for a gifting of a prophetic spirit. He said the Lord would show me the prophetic in a way I’ve never seen or heard of before. “I hear waiting room of God. He is calling you to wait, but when he tells you what to do, you better do it.” I left that meeting feeling both encouraged and confused.
A few days later…
“If I’ve ever met a real life prophet, Dawn* is the real deal.” – our host raved
We had the honor of meeting her one Sunday at fellowship. The moment Dawn opened her mouth to preach, I was captivated. She didn’t sugar coat anything. She went straight for the gut and spoke with authority. Pay attention. This message is for someone in here. My eyes welled up within minutes of her teaching on Exodus 14 – The Crossing of the Red Sea. She spoke about how mystified the Israelites must have felt when God told them to turn around and go back toward their enemy (v.2). Moses chose to trust God and turn back while his people cried out in fear, “What have you done to us?”
“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:13-14)
Throughout the service, memories of my brother flooded my mind. In many ways, I felt like the Lord was calling me back to grieve some of the moments I rushed through and did not receive healing.
Sometimes we must “go back” — so that he can catapult us into greater things. He asks us to trust him and take the next faithful step forward.
After this word, Dawn called up anyone who desired prayer. I nearly ran down the aisle. As she prayed for me and my family, she stopped abruptly.
“Hold on. I have a word for you.”
Dawn proceeded to tell me that she saw a vision of me surrounded by children with a dark complexion that God entrusted to me. She said that God was calling me to the nations (specifically “away from your home” and “not the United States”). But for now he is inviting me to trust him with my family (also his children).
He will fight for them.
THE SISTERS
All of these pieces came together when I received a (wisdom drenched) Facebook message from my best friend, Kelsey, that said, “The Lord will fight for you.” The phrase rattled around my mind for a minute… where have I heard this phrase?… I began scrolling through my recent photos and came across a photo of a print (above) my friend, Betsy sent me the other day. “The Lord your God will fight for you.” At this point, all the (aforementioned) events flooded to mind. I started laughing. God is definitely trying to capture my attention.
Just the other day, another sister had a word for me. “Satan quakes when he looks at you.”
He shakes and trembles when he simply looks at me?
Then why am I busting my butt, trying to fight every battle from my own strength? I am already more than a conqueror. The victory is mine through Christ Jesus. I can (and should and will) completely rest in that.
So here I stand at a crossroads. Keep ninja chopping and avoiding the deeper issues or take refuge and let the Lord fight for me.
For God alone my soul waits in silence from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence. They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah. For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. (Psalm 62:1-8)
AMEN!
* Name changed to respect confidentiality
