The Battle Is Not MINE

"This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's."

2 Chronicles 20:15

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My son, my heart, is soon to fly from the nest. I imagine all sorts of battles he will face. Fear and worry stir with vigor in my mind. I know there is a vast army ready to do battle with him in this world. He is enlisted in the service of the KING. Bubba, as he is known by his sisters, is currently on a mission trip in MI. There he is serving needy children through music and mentoring. Soon, too soon, he will board another airplane and be absent from our lives for months. Little Mommy says it's as if he is going to die. I praise Jesus for the blessing of Minnie Me. Closer in age they will remain together for a long time.

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I do take comfort that our Jedi knows the battle is real and which side he is on. He took great pains choosing a college to prepare him for Worship Ministry. Looking near and far. Finally comfortable with a tiny Bible College. All our hearts are at peace with Bubba's desire to follow where God is leading. Pleased with his plans and offering daily prayers for protection and guidance, my love will travel along this pilgrims path.

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"Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel." 2 Chronicles 20:19

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The end of the gorge in the desert is a place I have been often. The enemy attacking inside and out, climbing through my thoughts, spreading fear, doubt and depression. Stealing Hope. How I have thirsted in those times yet too weary to drink. Baking in the desert. The command "MARCH", "March against them", is painful to the ears of my heart. I just want to give up at the moment of my defeat. Knowing there is nothing left of me with which to rise. Yet HE calls with command again! "MARCH!" The loving voice cradles my beaten spirit, whispering the question, "Do you trust me?" Holding out HIS HAND, "take hold and close your eyes to all around you, I AM HERE. Do you trust ME?" An automatic response is on my lips with yes, LORD. HE replies, "March. March, you trust. Don't march, you don't trust. Trust, you believe. No trust, you don't. AM I who I AM? AM I who I say I AM? AM I who you say I AM? Do you believe your fear or ME? March. So I set my heart and mind to move the useless limbs. They move. I rejoice. Hope springs and floods my thoughts banishing the foe's infecting clouds. Humbled by the speck of obedience blessed.

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"You will not have to fight this battle." 20:17

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Shudders of relief run through the arteries of dying flesh. Faint with relief. I don't have to do it. My Savior IS HERE. Doubt still tries another attempt with limiting reality to human realms. Stating the obvious impossibilities with petitioned arguments. Calling the Savior a fairy tale of fantasy dreams. Accusing the loss of mind for so called faith. Beyond foolish, labeling CRAZY. Tempted to float, I am anchored with tears. The Savior is my only hope. There is no other. He alone can save me. "Be gone, I will believe."

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"Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem." 2 Chronicles 20:17

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Obey. He will fight for me. He will save. He will deliver. He will fulfill His promise. Yet, HE IS with me. I must be with HIM. A real relationship is not one sided. He wants me with HIM. HE IS doing battle for me. Stand up and watch me. "I love you", "I will fight for you". "Remember, don't ever forget it. Be strong with your love for me. Know I AM. Show your faith in me as I show mine in you.

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"Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you." 2 Chronicles 20:17

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Tomorrow the LORD is with me. The old dragon of fear is once again vanquished by the TRUE KNIGHT. I pray my son walks with the LORD through the battles. Faith is built in the battle, strengthen when weak, blessed when believed.

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"Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice." 2 Chronicles 20:18

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Some stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice. Some? Why only some. Even among believers, some may be all that stand up and praise. Some may be all that truly believe. Some are not just going along with the crowd or leadership. To some it is very personal. To some it is uncontainable. Will I be among the "some"?

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"Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

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"Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever."

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Sing Praise! Give Thanks! Before, just believing as if it already was. Our Bubba wants to be one of these who go before the army singing PRAISE. May I sing praise everyday before the LORD. May He delight in our song.

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"As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped." 2 Chronicles 20:22 - 24

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The LORD honors our first breaths of praise. HIS victory is complete.

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"....all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the LORD with harps and lutes and trumpets."

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More MUSIC!!!! Before, during and after the battle. Praise JESUS, HE IS my Savior. So many battles in my past, so many yet to come. My hope is in the LORD, My HERO.

Psalm 61

"Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
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From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
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For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
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I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
Selah
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For you have heard my vows, O God;
you have given me the heritage
of those who fear your name.
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Increase the days of the king's life,
his years for many generations.
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May he be enthroned in God's presence forever;
appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.
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Then will I ever sing praise to your name
and fulfill my vows day after day. "
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You, Lord and no other are The Strong Tower. Thank you for showing me my dependence on you through my children. Help me give them a heritage of a mother that fears YOUR NAME.

Filled with JOY

"When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:1 - 3
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How many times has the LORD come to my rescue? I can't even remember. How many dreams has HE filled? Too many to count. The question has never been if the LORD brings me back from some form of captivity. But, WHEN. Did I sing songs of joy so much so that all peoples around me knew the LORD had done great things for me? Did I let HIM fill me with joy or stop the flow when I thought it was enough? Did I stop Him from filling my mouth with laughter? If I was full there would be no room for anything else. So I must face that I cut GOD off. Because when HE did, I said how much and what's it gonna mean. And I set the boundaries of just who would know about it. I even made the parameter of how much I'd let it change me.
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Jesus is a giver of fresh starts. HE is happy just knowing I want a fresh start. I wanna sing for joy and not focus on losses or difficulties. I wanna know HE is in control and has a plan so I don't have to. I wanna laugh. My life has been so full of problems to solve, deadlines and the business of living that I'm missing the joy. Sure I have joy in the moments. But that is not the kind of joy Jesus has for me. It is not the limited joy I pull out at times but an abiding joy oozing out, spilling on others. The kind of joy that can't be contained. The kind of joy that is contagious! I want what the LORD wants to give me!
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Three stones of remembrance are laid in my life so I will NOT forget. Three great blessings the LORD has done for me. They are a challenge everyday. What do they remember of me each day they go to sleep? What will they remember of me when they grow and fly away? Yes, they DO need to be under authority. Yet, it is joy I want them to take with them and remember. It's what I want to remember too.
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The old saying, If Momma ain't happy nobody's happy, is convictingly true.
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"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." Proverbs 14:1
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Surely to open up to the LORD's filling is wise. It appears foolish to the world, even to myself. I am the blessing blocker. It is to my shame. Save me. Bring me back to your heart Jesus, once again. Leave my heart seared with your joy, singing for all to see the great things the LORD has done for me.
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"Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name." 2 Samuel 22:50
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"Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts." 1 Chronicles 16:9
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"Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him." Psalm 33:1
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