Before every battle we must face this

Ps. 121: 1- 3 "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?  My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.  He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber."
No matter what reality is surrounding you right now, know this, that God is with you.  That is a promise that you can stand on.  You can count on God.  Every time.

The Bible is full of stories as proof of His Presence.  I was reading in 2 Kings 6:13 - 18, the story of war between the bad guys and the good guys.  The enemy forces were sent out in the cover of night, in mass, to surround the city.  The next morning, Elisha, his servant, and troops went out to do battle.  It was known the force they were about to encounter.  Upon surveying the surrounding situation, the servant became overwhelmed with the view.  "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?"  All he could see was the view in front of him.  A looming line of soldiers ready for the attack. 

My mind goes to those John Wayne westerns that are often replayed in our house.  This scene is in about every one of his productions.  His character is usually the good guy in the well worn, trail-dirty hat, the Mr. Do-Good, fighting against the bad guys.  There is always that moment of sizing up the enemy, in the valley, the lowest place on his trusty steed, surrounded by his armed companions.  

There's that moment before battle...

...when he stops to evaluate, looks to the hills see who he is fighting.  He sizes up his enemy, he captures that scene.  As he looks up, he gathers his gumption, and his troops and sees victory.  He remembers why he  fighting, who he is fighting for and then courage comes.  He fights.  The good guys always win in the movie.  We watch John Wayne embrace the battle, and standing on what he knows.  

Life is full of battles...

When Elisha and his servant surveyed their options, Elisha said look again, "Don't be afraid, those who are with us are more than those who are with them."  The servant looked again as Elisha prayed for God to "open" his eyes.  The servant scanned the horizon.  He saw the hills "full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha".  Warriors of God lined the edge of the craggy hills, ready for the attack, ready to fight the battle.   God sent the back up team.

What a sight that must have been.  In their valley, they sought help from the Lord.  At their lowest point, they looked up and saw the Lord's help.  Let that soak in...that moment of victory, that moment before the battle sets defeat in their hearts and in their minds.   They saw hope. 

They lifted their prayers to the only one who could save them and they saw God help and hope,  from their valley, their lowest point.  

Don't miss this...there has to be a low spot to see the high points of faith.  We have to let the God who equips us, prepare us.  We prepare so that we can carry His armor, and to be ready to fight for what is important.  With God's help and hope we embrace battles His way.  We can't relent, retreat, or be lacking in bravery.  We aren't in life's battle alone.  God does not leave us in a bind, nor does God abandon.

He sees us through every battle.

You might think that you are the only one going through tough times now.  Sure it looks different in your house than mine.  You might have different stages of cancer, illness, loss, temptation, addiction or devastation.  We are all battling something.

There's a moment before the battle that we must submit or agree with God that we can't do life alone, we should never what to get a point where we think we can, nor should we excuse God from our current storm.  

Never remove His sovereignty from your situation.  

Whatever you are facing to day, know that your help comes from the Lord.  I have known this in the most personal way.  God's help is available for all.  He will line your "city" with the most awesome warriors too.  Just ask, seek, see and trust His sovereignty in every situation.  He's got this battle just like He had the last one.  See your moment of victory!

How have you seen God surround your "city"?