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"?

Music Monday [Desert Song]

I love this worship song by Hillsong United.  It speaks to my spiritual journey right now.  I will let the words speak for themselves.


This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
cs from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/h/hillsong/the_desert_song.html ]
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

All of my life, In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've recieved I will sow


I have to chose to worship all the time.  I don’t always feel like it. Sometimes all I feel like doing is crying.  But I know this...at the end of the day....God is still God. He doesn’t change.  He hasn't changed in what He has called me to be or what He’s called me to do. He’s still on the throne in heaven.  And because He doesn't change...that single reason gives me something to cling to.  Because He is in my tomorrows and controls them that gives me reason to worship.

Do you see the hope here?

One Chance, One Stone, One Thud

The story of David and Goliath is a very familiar and favorite of mine. It is repeated in every Sunday School circle time in every church in America as one of the greatest examples of God's power on display. It presents such a contrast of winning vs. losing and once again proves that God is awesome.

As 1 Samuel 16-17 relates, the handsome, young David is doing his daily duties as a sheep herder attending to his flock. He comes from a large family and had just by-passed his older brothers on the fast-track to kingship when he was publicly recognized and anointed by Samuel. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him in power.

The Enemy shouts. It was a time of war for the Israelites vs. the Philistines. Goliath comes to the front lines dressed in the finest armour the Philistine army could provide, laced with pride. As if he needed all that heavy metal, seriously, he was a giant! The champion measured nine-feet tall. His intimidating size was the fundamental element that gained him recognition for his fighting prowess. Because of it, all he had to do was show up and people scattered.

Two Hills. So the Israelites were on one hill and the Philistines were on the opposite hill and the scene was set for battle. Goliath goads the Israelites with, "Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will be our subjects and serve us." That one battle cry incited fear and interpretation into all those who heard his booming and defeating words.

David Shows Up. Jesse, his dad, had told David to take some bread and cheese reserves to his brothers who were on the front lines. Actually, there wasn't much fighting going, just a lot of taunting from one tall, loud dude. When you are tall and loud, yes, you will get the most attention. Forty days each army had been showing up for battle, for forty days the giant spewed his threats. That day, as David was delivering supplies, he heard Goliath shouting his usual defiance. By this time the Israelites where in a "duck-and-cover" mode. There was one word to their battle cry...RUN!

David prepares. David accepts God's call to fight the towering opponent. Saul, in his attempt to help David get ready, dresses him with the finest the forces have to offer. But David already had his strategy set. As God had delivered him from every lion and bear attack in the sheep pastures, God had proved himself as the only armor this young warrior would need. He went to the nearest stream and picked up five smooth stones, along with his sling and approached immanent battle.

The valley. As the opponents face off, I can help but notice the contrast in the valley. Evil vs. Good. Old vs. Young. Tall vs. Short. Proud vs. Humble. Loud vs. Quiet. Brash vs. Meek. Harsh vs. Soft. Fury vs. Calm. Disdain vs. Favor. Fear vs. Courage. Conflict vs. Resolution. Defeat vs. Victory. Death vs. Life. In the valley, opposites clashed.

The battle belongs to the Lord. After the two "giants" exchanged their personal predictions regarding the certain outcome of the impending onslaught, David knew this was his one chance. With his eye on the target, he catapulted one stone. The smooth stone struck Goliath smack between the eyes, impacting his forehead, causing his lumbering frame to fall with a heavy thud. A cloud of dust rose from the impact of the dead. Both armies stood in amazement of what had just occurred. God's will was accomplished as David proclaimed, "All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's and will give all of you into our hands." 1 Samuel 17: 47. So the whole world would know, one act of obedience shouts.

One stone changed the course of history. One action in the face of fear. One action in a valley of a man's faith journey. I can't help but be moved by David's mantra of "doing it afraid." He was confident, not in his own skills, but in his Lord. When he heard the call of the enemy, he knew in his pure heart, that God was calling him to prove to the world the power and might that he had experienced in a pasture. As David stood at the water's edge gathering his gumption, I imagine he flashed through his past hero-moments where God proved himself faithful. With that understanding and unstoppable faith, David knew how to fight this epic enemy.

Our battle cry in the face of fear, adversity, insecurity and hopelessness, should be the same as David's. Life presents plenty of good vs. evil scrimmages for God's faithful maneuvers to manifest complete in our campaigns. We must show up for battle, dressed for engagement, equipped with the Spirit's boldness, and move forward in assurance so that the whole world would know. The battle is the Lord's! Let's do this afraid! Let's do this!

God's got this battle just like He's got the last battle. What battles are you facing?