Armed For Battle

"The Lord is my light and my salvation - 

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strong hold of my life -

of whom shall I be afraid?"

-Psalm 27:1

Eyes closed to black, only to open to more of the same.  An arm prolongs, grasping the phone bringing light to the room and rushing tremors through her mind.  2 A.M. again, another night of restlessness and she feels the uneasiness set.  It is 3 hours 'til her wake up call.  She wonders why He has her up...

Languidly, she prays for herself, along with the fears inside and outside her mind...

and heart.

She shifts.

Then, prays for her neighbors, the ones she still doesn't know.

She prays for her friends.
The ones she's just met.

Why always this fear?... Or is it even fear still? She wonders why her mind always forgets that His Word is not just a love letter but, that His love words are weapons in the dark.  

With transience her fears subside in singing His Words of light,

"I know who goes before me, I know who stands behind,

the God of angel armies is always by my side.

The One who reigns forever, 

He is a friend of mine.

The God of angel armies is always by my side."

(Whom Shall I Fear written by Chris Tomlin & Ed Cash)

Her fears still, His peace fills in.  The war that's really real is not the one out across the ocean, south of the border, across the table, down the street or across the creek.  The real war is unseen.  No gun or bomb can halt its force.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty powers.  Put on the full armor of God so you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  For our struggle is not against the flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand.  Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breast plate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which extinguishes all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the saints."

- Ephesians 6:10-18

The Evil One's arrows really do burn,

They cut,

pierce,

and scourge in all the right places when we shelve our armor.

However, when we pick it up, one almost giggles at the attempts of his attack.

There is freedom.

Jesus.

He won, wins.

Christ

Emmanuel.

Do you know what that last name means? 

Emmanuel?

God, with us.

He wore his belt of truth in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11).  He had his breastplate in place.  His feet were ready with the Gospel's peace.  His faith shielded him from the devil's attacks.  

Now, He provides us with the helmet of salvation so we too can fight back the lies, fears, accusations, pain, regret, and chains with the sword of the Spirit, being the Word of God.

Jesus did not waken her 3 hours too early.  He woke her right then to join him in battle. 

She rolls over and wonders,

what battles He is winning tonight as light fills her mind and energy surges her soul.  He let her partake, right there, in the dark of her room, he brought illumination.  

She hugs her pillow close as fervor fills her veins and vigor surges through her nerves.

"Nothing formed against me shall stand  

You hold the whole world in your hands

I'm holding onto your promises

You are faithful

You are faithful 

You are faithful God."

(Whom Shall I Fear written by Chris Tomlin & Ed Cash)

She falls asleep to faithfulness with a new understanding of a God who does not care that she complains when she awakens too early because, He knows the gift she will receive in the sacrifice of her selfish desires, if she is willing and armed for His call.  

He loves her too much to leave her...

He brings her into his mission and out of the fear of the night.  Because the battles all around and he can...

will...

has,

equipped you to join His ranks.

;)

"My strength is in Your name

For You alone can save

You will deliver me

Yours is the victory

Whom shall I fear?

Whom shall I fear?

I know who goes before me, I know who stands behind,

the God of angel armies is always by my side."

(Whom Shall I Fear written by Chris Tomlin & Ed Cash)