written December 18, 2009
I sat with the Lord by the Pacific Ocean this morning, and I received a word about us, those who have a long history of going to the cavern of our hearts in His heart - walking and talking with Him in the cool of the day in His Garden, those who are seasoned warriors. Yes, those ones. This has been a hard year and things have been happening that should not have happened to God's leaders who pray with authority - grandchildren hit with strange sickness, a teen son walking away from the Lord, possible serious sicknesses coming on, loss of jobs and financial desperation.
I hear accusations, condemnations, warnings for past mistakes, past offenses, blah blah! I see weary leaders losing strength, disheartened and confused What have we done wrong?
Yet these are seasoned warriors, even generals all waiting on Him, the Commander-in-chief to take us into victory. Victory? Why does that word "victory"sound slightly hollow to our ears presently? The enemy has been playing with our minds; on the other hand, we have never left our post. We still are putting everything, all our hopes and dreams and faith, on our Supreme Leader, our Beloved Lord Jesus. In fact, the truth of the matter is that we cannot leave our posts because our feet have grown roots where we stand, and the roots are holding us fast to the very soil, the very ground where He has planted us.
Not only that, but our arm, our hand which have been wielding our swords, like that faithful warrior in David's army (see 2 Samuel 23:9-10), our swords have fused into the hands that hold them. No longer can the sword leave our hands. Our eyes may seem blurry and teary, our backs killing us, and accusations of past mistakes demoralizing us, yet the roots are growing deeper and deeper, ever searching for the Living Water, ever drinking from the River. We are still loving Him, adoring Him, enjoying him, still seeing, hearing, declaring, praising, interceding, no matter in small ways compared to the past glory the Lord gave us. We have not given up on any place or any one. We are each growing into fine trees, and our branches are growing side ways and up ways, linking arms with other trees, becoming a forest in the Garden, a community, standing and guarding the young little saplings, nurturing them, protecting them from harm.
Not only that, but our arm, our hand which have been wielding our swords, like that faithful warrior in David's army (see 2 Samuel 23:9-10), our swords have fused into the hands that hold them. No longer can the sword leave our hands. Our eyes may seem blurry and teary, our backs killing us, and accusations of past mistakes demoralizing us, yet the roots are growing deeper and deeper, ever searching for the Living Water, ever drinking from the River. We are still loving Him, adoring Him, enjoying him, still seeing, hearing, declaring, praising, interceding, no matter in small ways compared to the past glory the Lord gave us. We have not given up on any place or any one. We are each growing into fine trees, and our branches are growing side ways and up ways, linking arms with other trees, becoming a forest in the Garden, a community, standing and guarding the young little saplings, nurturing them, protecting them from harm. The Lord gave to us Psalm 1 (with slight paraphrasing)
Blessed are the leaders who do not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.
But our delight is in the ways of the Lord.
We are like trees planted by streams of water,
which yield fruits in season
and whose leaves do not wither.
Whatsoever we do prosper.
Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
