"THE HEART OF THE RIGHTEOUS STUDIETH TO ANSWER: BUT THE MOUTH OF THE WICKED POURETH OUT EVIL THINGS. THE LORD IS FAR FROM THE WICKED: BUT HE HEARETH THE PRAYER OF THE RIGHTEOUS."
Proverbs 15:28, 29
Who is it? How is it? These thoughts of the mind
Coming forth to carry me away from taking action
To practice diversions that will only take me from destiny's path.
Emerging without any warning...drawing my attention to the past
Accursed, accused, distorted, abused
The lies that try to settle here
In the shadows of time
Before I knew the truth
I was blinded by fear.
Longing to disappear into grace,
To be transformed, restored, embraced
By true love's arms.
Invited to partake of the bread and the wine;
Naturally nourished by divine eyes.
Searching infinitely beyond what was there
knowing the heart behind the prayer.
Hidden treasure dressed in armor
Fight until you can fight no longer!
Lift up your head
Awaken, O Warrior, rise from the dead!
Take unto you the joy of abiding in Him
Though you are at war, you are not a slave to sin.
Give the enemy no place, no ground to stand
For the true battleground is beneath the surface
Within the heart and mind of man.
"For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand... "
Psalm 149:4-6
Healing. We are all healing as we stand in the light of God’s perfect counsel. I had no idea the outcome that would come forth from the beginning of this season when I received the title for this update: Destination WarZone. I have been enlightened since; with every word that is written here, I pray only His words flow to your heart and deliver you to victory’s trusted hand.
Heavenly Father, Gracious One:
May we behold your kindness, your mercy, your steadfast love, and may others behold you through us. Teach us prudence…that our goings are of you, truly we cannot understand our own way. Lead us, O God, that we may not wonder out of the way of understanding and be found in the congregation of the dead. May we cease from our own wisdom and be in the fear of you all the day long. Lord, may our lips utter right things. Amen.
A warzone provokes one to quick thinking. Think of those around you…protect and preserve. Use your weapons of war - not for a moment can we afford to lose our focus. It will cost somebody’s life. If we are carelessly flinging our weapons around, or throwing up a white flag when the war is not over yet, or taking off even a piece of our armor…we are not only jeopardizing ourselves, but needlessly causing others to be put in harms way.
Do you frequently use your weapons? If not, you will be fearful or hesitant upon use of them. The more you use them, the more skillful you become; the more confident you will be to execute and follow through when in a combat situation. Fear Paralyzes. Do not be afraid. The Lord your God is with you. In conversations, in confrontations, upon entering a room full of people, or standing in the dark all alone. He is in the storm with you. Even the dark becomes light around Him. If you are in Him, then even the dark becomes light around you.
Attention to detail. If you are not watching and giving yourself unto prayer, (Luke 12:39...“Watch unto prayer”) you will miss something. It is easy to overlook a purpose once the true meaning of the mission has escaped you. If you are reading the word of God daily and praying without ceasing, you will possess a constant state of situational awareness. You will be sharpened and strengthened by hardship. You will advance in battle, in word and deed; the Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth. You Will Overcome!
Attitude is a lot of it. Trudge on through the muck without complaining (Phil 2:14) about your circumstances. (I am not saying do not speak of them…just remember that out of the abundance of your heart your mouth will speak. What is in your heart in abundance?) Your worries will not be able to hold any ground. Keep your eyes on Jesus (The Word) and the frustrations will come to nothing. (Isaiah 26:3) Difficulty will be a welcomed challenge. Believe beyond what you can see and you will run right into the Springs of Living Waters. The Word of God makes all things refreshing and clear. Not only can you drink and be satisfied, but the visual capacity cannot be compared to any other. You can perceive and know, far beneath the surface, deep and wide. Faith will lead you beside still waters. He’ll be there to swim with you and show you around. He’ll teach you how to breathe under water. Out of your element and into His…kick your feet, twirl around, do flips, you can do so much more than you ever dreamed when you let go and just believe (breathe).
"There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord."
Proverb 21:30
The definition of war:
n 1: the waging of armed conflict against an enemy; 2: a legal state created by a declaration of war and ended by official declaration during which the international rules of war apply; [syn: state of war] [ant: peace] 3: an active struggle between competing entities; [syn: warfare] 4: a concerted campaign to end something that is injurious; "the war on poverty"; make or wage war [ant: make peace]
The Israelites had to take possession of the Promised Land by conquest. They had to engage in a long and bloody war before the Canaanite tribes were finally subdued. Except in the case of Jericho and Ai, the war did not become aggressive till after the death of Joshua. Till then the attack was always first made by the Canaanites. Now the measure of the iniquity of the Canaanites was full, and Israel was employed by God to sweep them away from off the face of the earth. In entering on this new stage of the war, the tribe of Judah, according to divine direction, took the lead.
In the days of Saul and David the people of Israel engaged in many wars with the nations around, and after the division of the kingdom into two they often warred with each other. They had to defend themselves also against the inroads of the Egyptians, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians. The whole history of Israel from first to last presents but few periods of peace. The Christian life is represented as a warfare, and the Christian graces are also represented under the figure of pieces of armour (Eph. 6:11-17; 1 Thess. 5:8; 2 Tim. 2:3, 4). The final blessedness of believers is attained as the fruit of victory (Rev. 3:21).
Are you measuring every aspect of your life according to the truth? Or are you depending upon your own understanding? Are you wavering between opinions and religious perspectives? What is ruling and reigning in your heart and mind? Look at the state of those around you…they are your mirror. What are their facial expressions? Is there great peace or is there strife and anxiety? Is there freedom in communications or is there hesitation and self-consciousness?
On the battlefield it may not feel like war while you are lying in the trenches, waiting. In our mind we work things out, weigh circumstances, and become mentally prepared for the next encounter. Waiting is a part of warfare. Do not forget that. Wait On the Lord.
War is a declaration of demolition. A decision that the walls must come down, the ground must be broken, the foundation must be poured for everything to be set in its place. In demolition, the old vessel is utterly destroyed so that the new one may be erected. (Old attitudes and mindsets will not be sufficient anymore. They must be torn down, because they are opposite of absolute dependence upon God and His love. Only doubt and unbelief linger there.)
We are God’s building. Though we are under construction, a lot is going on, people are coming and going. We have some choices to make even while we are covered in mud, in bits and pieces, while the work is being done…humility or pride, accept or analyze, encourage or discourage, selfishness or selflessness. He allows us to go forward and to cross paths with others in this journey of life, to spiritually and physically overcome, to open up and experience such freedom, and all of this is by His grace.
Waiting, praying, praising, resisting the enemy. (James 4:7) In order to resist the devil you must be able to recognize the enemy. Sometimes the enemy’s presence is unseen, deceitfulness. The light of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit will expose the hidden works of darkness, you can be sure of it. Do not be discouraged, God sees it all.
You overshadow and surprise me;
You fill me yet cause me to hunger;
Lay me down and cause me to rise;
Allow me to rest that I may fly;
Be exhilarated, dangerously energized
By your gracious presence of truth.
I swim in the beauty of all you are,
Even in the night seasons;
Your whispers heal me in the dark,
Unseen places of my heart.
Giving me cause to rejoice
To raise my hands and lift my voice.
In Wondrous Jubilee
I am All Yours and I am Free!
Hugs and kisses…walks and talks…letters and calls…cups of hot chocolate and tea…laying a hand on someone’s back, head, or shoulder could completely destroy a lie or insecurity. Giving someone a flower, opening a door, welcoming them into your home, inviting them to a meal or to play a game, taking time to ask questions (asking means wanting to know) and listen from your heart; could be the greatest revelation of Jesus Christ in someone’s life ever. To use your time to relieve others or lighten their load and help carry their burdens, is this not fulfilling the law of love? (Galatians 6:2)
"Be strong, fear not: behold your God will come with vengeance……He will come and save you. " Isaiah 35:4
This season has brought me through many different experiences and understandings. I can share only a few, because there is not enough space to write it all. God has given me dreams as warnings and encouragements for myself and others. He has allowed me to look into the faces of my friends and family and speak wisdom or understanding before a certain event or circumstance were to take place in their lives. He has blessed me by allowing me to see old friends; I was blessed to listen and cry, to pray and rejoice with them. I was blessed to be in their midst as they describe to me the struggles they are facing in their marriages, raising their children, future plans and decisions, the fears and disappointment of their lonesome hearts, and the lives they are presently living. I have been able to visit with others along the way that just needed someone to listen, a little nudge of encouragement, someone to help them sort out their feelings and thoughts. Some were entangled by addictions, distraught by doubt, being destroyed by rejection, and were slowly slipping into the lie that there is no hope for them in God. Others were being discouraged and disillusioned by emotional ups and downs, tossed about by internal wars, fighting against themselves somehow, sitting in the silence and getting angry, blaming away their hurts unknowingly, trying to find their worth in something or someone else.
When sharing my testimony with others, I learned that it is not healthy to only speak of the good. It might create a false image of the Christian life. I am a Child of the King; this does not exempt me from hardship. It only gives me a new way to handle these situations. Grace. Faith instead of fear. “And this is how we overcome, even our faith.”
I have seen the ‘wings of the morning.’ I have been ‘moved’ by God from Glory to Glory. I have been healed of all kinds of pain. I have learned that words are not always necessary. I have learned to breathe; I have learned to enjoy the unexpected. I have worshipped in the street, in parks, at picnics, bonfires, in backyards, in the middle of nowhere. I have seen fire-in-the-sky sunsets. Listened to the crickets sing their praise. Slept outside. Seen fireflies, and butterflies dancing. Hugged perfect strangers, walked into unknown places and prayed for people’s hearts to be turned towards God. By Amazing Grace, I have been made a family member (adopted) in a couple of different families. I have been hiking, climbing, canoeing, swinging, dancing, and singing. Been swimming in lakes, oceans, creeks, rivers and springs.
I have experienced and received God’s mighty abundance of provision in many different circumstances. I have been honored to endure some crazy hardships and struggles with friends; to hear prayers in their behalf and later see their prayers answered. I have talked to many of the homeless; eaten with them; prayed for them; sang to them. By God’s Mercy and provision, I was able to bail someone out of jail. I have given and received encouragements from friends in Holland that I have never met.
I have gone to the post office to mail packages for a children’s orphanage in Nigeria; and an employee of the post office said, “He knew that I was coming in and that he was paying for one of the packages to be shipped.”
I have been through another hurricane. I packed and moved my mom to a new place with God‘s help. I have driven many miles in buses and cars. I enjoyed having company from out of town. I have stood out in the rain praying. I had a 3:00 am bible study with a friend. I attended soccer games. I was given more songs by God. I learned to play SCUM (card game). I played some unforgettable games of ping-pong. I was utterly blessed and freed by the music of my friends laughter. I have had my feelings hurt; have cried for sadness and joy of heart. I have been embraced. Uplifted by words of affirmation, and challenged by conflicts of many kinds. I have been prayed over and encouraged beyond expression. Played with children; held and blessed babies; shared in the joys of Spanish homework; primed and painted walls; written scripture on bricks and boards that will soon become a home where my friends will dwell; have become ever more familiar with the Greyhound Bus stations. And was glad to be a passenger in my friend’s car when we accidently met with an interstate divider with the left front fender while commenting on an ’everything’ bagel. (Blast those poppy seeds!) Experienced the fierceness of grape Gatorade, gummy bears, and homemade brownies. Had some deeply meaningful, joy-filled conversations…all of which began and ended in prayer.
GIVER OF REST: Thank you for blessing me and my friends with all that You are……… preparing us for the days ahead. Help us God, not to grow tired or weary, but to truly be of an excellent (calm) spirit that all would behold Your Love at work within our lives. May our conversations provoke one another to good works and to a greater level of desiring excellence in all things. Glory be unto You, our soon-coming King.
"Whoso offered praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordered his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. " Psalm 50:23
Saints, If you have been feeling like you are walking into something or coming out of something…you are right. It is warfare. To realize the simple truth…whatever is in our hands, we need to be willing to set it down in order to outstretch our arms to God, and live life from the depths of who we are. Desire keeps us on target>>>If our desire is God, then nothing will matter more to us than loving God and loving His people. Life becomes a war zone when you live this way. It takes nothing less than faith to live in the zone. God be with you and keep you as you take a step into the next season of life and love and the plans that He has for you. He will be with you always, even unto the very end.
"Thy words were found, and I did eat them: and thy words was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of Hosts. " Jeremiah 15:16
by Marcie Mayo
