4/8/2017

So many of us are in the trenches with a fierce battle raging around, yet, in the midst of that one seems to come the onslaught of others. In earnest, we want to finish one battle well before the invasion of another; however, we are not given that choice.  The battles can be instrumental in increasing our dependency on the Commander In Chief when we have reached the threshold "again" of having more than we can bear. It is in such trials and tribulations that God gets to be seen and evidenced in and through our lives If we seek Him surrendering our desires to Him while trusting and having faith in His desired outcome.

"The present circumstance, which presses so hard against you (if surrendered to Christ), is the best shaped tool in the Father's hand to chisel you for eternity. Trust Him, then. Do not push away the instrument lest you lose its work. "Cowman

We can be strong in the fiercest of storms when we have the right leader,  instructions, and  artillery but as soon as we divert our eyes elsewhere or we listen to enemy lies we lose our strength of position. It is in that instant we feel the ominous weight of life itself, whereas, before we felt the eagles wings that were carry us onward and upward along with the sweet taste of victory. We feel as if our progress is interrupted as now the ground under us becomes shaky, our footing slips to and fro until we  lose our balance and the foundation beneath us crumbles. This is when we need to retreat and return back to the basics of our training for reassessment, realignment, and repositioning.

First, we must get with our fearless and faithful leader to regroup. Only He can provide us with the assurance, support and encouragement we need because when we lose sight of our purpose, hope quickly flees and we just can’t see how “this” all works for our future much less anyone else’s. But He reminds us:

“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and not for harm, to give you a future and a hope. You will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13) and  that “No weapon formed against us will prevail( Isaiah 54:17). The ongoing challenge yet consolation for all believers is “to consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). He knows what we need and when we need it but we must call upon Him, pray and seek Him to receive it. 

Secondly, we need to repent of taking our eyes off of our Commander and looking to our circumstances instead of Him. In Acts 21,  Paul hearing from others that he was to abort the ensuing battle ahead of him, showed  that we are to stay the course until the Lord removes it or us. Reaffirm your belief and pray for the Lord to help you conquer any unbelief.

"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief" (Mark 9:24).

Thirdly, we need our vision realigned as we are short sighted both physically and spiritually. We see through a fallen lens not the one of eternity. If we do not see movement on the battle field in the way we want we: DOUBT, QUESTION, BECOME FRUSTRATED/ANGRY, COMPLAIN, CRITICIZE, COMPARE OUR SITUATIONS TO OTHERS, AND/OR  JUDGE. 

We are faint of heart and strength. 

But this is of no surprise to Him as He knew we would be and he gave us this as an encouragement,  “Therefore do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”(2 Corinthians 4:16-18). He takes His hand and lifts our faces upward to gaze in our eyes and it is then that we know that “HE IS our hiding place; HE will protect us from trouble and surround us with songs of deliverance ( in and through the battle)  as HE councils us with HIS loving eyes.” (Psalm 32:7-8 ).  

Only the Commander In Chief can: RESURRECT our strength with Himself, REPLENISH our ammo for the battle, RENEW  our vision, help us to REMAIN on the battlefield, enable us to REMOVE hindrances and REDEEM what was taken. He knows how long to leave us in the battle and will never leave us to do it alone. There is  purpose in every battle and spoils of war for our keeping. 

Each battle refines our character to the image of Christ, lets other’s see His glory and splendor displayed in and through our circumstances, allows our intimacy to grow in the Lord, gives us  the ability to learn and appropriate the scriptures in the battle, affords us the ability to minister to others who face similar battles, and to give God the glory for all that He does! 

May I leave you with the following:

Onward, Christian Soldiers, 
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus, 
Going on before!

Christ the royal Master, 
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle, 
See His banners go!

—lyrics by Sabine Baring-Gould, 1865

Love to you sweet ones!