Someone asked me if I believe in miracles and visions. My answer...if God is the Alpha and the Omega and is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow; and if he performed miracles and sent visions in the past, is He not capable of doing that today?
I would like to share a vision that a very good friend of mine had when she was at her rope's end. In her words, she says, "I saw a vision of a bulging strong arm holding a spear and standing at attention...and just a profile of a jawline that was ready to fight. Jesus let me know He was fighting for me."
When I think of Jesus, I often think of the "Sunday School Jesus"...the one with smiling, kind Jesus welcoming the little children to come unto Him. I think of the Jesus cradling the lost sheep in His arms. These are true and accurate portrayals of the Jesus the Bible describes. But, there is a Jesus that we too often forget...the one who is strong and mighty, ready to fight and stand guard over our lives.
I may be short in stature, but I am a fighter and I have persevered through many trials. I say "I", but more accurately, I usually fight until I reach the end of myself and then I remember that I have a Savior who is not only able, but is willing to go to battle for me.
The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you...(Deuteronomy 1:29)
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. (Exodus 14:14)
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. (Psalm 28:7)
Notice in these verses who it is who goes before and does the fighting? The Lord. What does he ask of us? To be still and trust in Him and then praise Him.
We are NOT the ones meant to fight, the Lord is.
So what is there to fight? In this world, lots of things both large and small. Ie: fear, worry, doubt, anxiety, depression, lack of self esteem, problems of every sort - physical, emotional and spiritual. Don't underestimate the enemy. He is sneaky and crafty and prowls about looking to devour, kill and destroy. He is not omniscient (able to read your mind), but he does know your hot buttons - your Achilles heel. He wants to see you down, defeated and rendered useless for the Lord's good plans for your life. He speaks lies....ALL lies!
For me, he hurls flaming arrows that say that I am not a good enough wife and mother. He gets me caught up in one of his favorite games - the comparison game. This is a "no win" game by the way. He taunts me that because I doubt, that my faith is not strong enough and that somehow God is disappointed in me. Lately he has cheered that my spirits have fallen due to lingering physical infirmities.
On my own, I am no match for the enemy. The good news is that I have strong warriors (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) ready to go to battle for me!
"He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." (Psalm 91:2)
"His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." (Psalm 91:4)
"He commands His angels to guard you in all your ways." (Psalm 91:11)
Fortunately we know that "greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world". God trumps the enemy every time...our job is to call on Him!
What else does God ask us to do while He fights? He protects us by giving us a full armor to put on to keep us safe and He asks us to guard our hearts and minds and to have faith.
In addition to all (full armor of God), take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16)
"Guard your heart and mind by filling them with God's word. Hold fast to the true meaning of following God and don't let go." (M. Southerland)
In essence God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit along with their army of angels are on the front lines going into battle for us. We are the ones being defended and meanwhile are asked to put on our armor, have faith and be still.
To me, this is blessed assurance to know just who will fight for me and that I am a far cry from being in these battles alone.
I love the words to Chris Tomlin's song "Whom Shall I Fear" [God of Angel Armies]
I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of Angel armies
Is always by my side.
What blessed assurance to know that we have a Heavenly army poised and ready to fight for us no matter what we come up against. God loves you so much and he is furious with the enemy for coming up against you. Behind His tender and merciful love for you is a powerful and mighty right arm ready to do battle on your behalf. Oh what love can be greater than this?
Is there a battle being waged against you? How can you take comfort and find peace in the One who will fight for you?
In His love,
Bev
