God is mustering a beautiful army.
To the world, we are anything but. But then, beauty has always been in the eye of the beholder. For each member of this beautiful army, there is only one Beholder whose opinion counts.
Oxymoron that it seems to be, the beautiful army of God – covered with His blood and one’s own battle scars – only serves to intensify the splendor of the One who has enlisted us.
His beauty becomes ours as we study Him, learn how He thinks, come into agreement with Him in our word and deed, and submit ourselves to being changed from glory to glory with every obedient choice we make and every lie we put to death.
When I ponder my place in God’s beautiful army, my heart hears worth, value, usefulness, significance, knowing and being known, speaking forth and putting to flight that which would rise up in opposition to the plans and purposes of the Most High.
That isn’t always what my heart heard, though. Years of listening to the world’s spin; the flesh – my own and others’; and the devil’s lies produced more battle scars than I can count. Freedom of soul and spirit, and yes, even body, was elusive. So what changed?
For me, it was the day I “woke up” to the fact that the enemy had played me over and over – like a string-less instrument in his death-grip hands. I remember growing angry with a white-hot intensity leveled at him as it flooded my entire being. I became enraged at the enemy of my soul as the realization spread through me. “HOW DARE YOU, devil?!?” Something shifted within me that day.
God’s Truth went deep as the chains of lies and the enemy’s deception was revealed for what it was. I knew I was a child of God before. Now I knew I was a child of the King. Two such different knowings. No longer just in my head, I now knew the life-force of it throughout my being.
It was a spiritual awakening at a deeper level than I had ever walked in before. That day I joined God’s beautiful army against the already defeated enemy. Enlistment meant I was thrust into God’s boot camp where much has had to be routed out from within me and the ground of my life reclaimed.
All these years since, I have been a participant in God’s mission for Truth and righteousness and reclamation. It has not been easy nor especially fun. Hard and painful is more accurate as truth and righteousness is not a popular message these days. Reclaiming the ground of one’s life sounds good until the shovel gets put in your hand. Many throw it down and run the other way, and the enemy scores yet another victory on top of all his previous ones.
But for those who embrace the blood, sweat and tears, they will surely be amazed when they reap the reward God has for them…
Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. Surely he who walks and weeps, bearing a trail of seed, shall come again with joyful shouting, bearing his sheaves. (Psalms 126:5-6 LITV)
There is a war going on, internally and externally. Only one Kingdom will ultimately prevail, but not without a massive last-ditch assault by that ancient deceiver, the devil. Sadly, there will be casualties.
God is mustering a beautiful army. Will you join me in asking Him to prevail over everything in us that is not of Him so that, without spot or wrinkle, we may prevail with Him?
If so, your presence is requested on the front lines.
Bring your shovel. Our Captain will bring the victory.
In the service of the King,
Gracefully Free
It’s nice to know another enlistee in the service of the captain of our salvation. He is an anchor that holds.
God has found a wonderful writer to call us to join Him in the battle. As He reminds us that we are to be on the frontline with Him, you can count me to be there with all the tools that He has given me.
Those tears in Ps 126 are actually the watering of the seed we sow..ahhh but the Joyful Shouting!!! 🙂
This was such an encouraging read – and difficult at the same time. When you are feeling defeated, just the thought of mustering the energy to “pick up the shovel” can be hard to imagine. But the promise of victory out ahead causes us to stretch out our hands and take the challenge, one shovelful at a time . . . .
Hi Nancy,
Great encouragement this morning. I believe I need that “righteous anger” at the devil right now…I do feel believe we/I’m in a war, but in a season of getting pretty bruised up over here. :-/
Curious why the mention of a shovel? In relation to a war? I’m guessing there’s a reason. 😉
Sending love!
Pamela
Pamela ~ great encouragement and ‘righteous anger’ in the same sentence is not always readily embraced by many. We don’t come through spiritual battles unscathed, but this I know: He who bruises (and allows bruising) is the same One who applies the Balm of Gilead and binds up. I pray this for you, my friend, for I know He is faithful.
As for a shovel, perhaps the main reason is the Lord has so embedded in me (and the core of Shammahs Field) our life being the ground from which we are called to grow and produce His fruit. As for the shovel in a war context, I think all our lives come with a ‘dig here’ sign planted in our ground. Some choose to do the internal work of the war, some don’t. Those who do find that eventually the weeds, rocks, and roots cut off and removed in conjunction with Holy Spirit’s working within, and the fertilizing, tending, pruning, and watering on the building up side, begins to manifest outwardly in ways that mirror the image of the One living within. I hope that makes sense. The simple personal answer is that even Shammahs Field/Ministries reflects this process – in our very personal lives and our work with others. We get varying degrees of ‘soil’ in our work. Working ‘the ground’ of our lives and others’ is full of learning.
Of course, there’s first and foremost the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, but if not combined with the shovel His Word can be used and misrepresented in ways He never intended. I think of Nehemiah and family by family rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (which picture and message the Lord used deeply in my husband and me). They held a sword in one hand because of ever-lurking danger and their working tool in the other as they rebuilt at the same time. Not one over the other, or one without the other, but simultaneously. And in their case, the Lord brought about a miracle in that they completed the entire wall rebuilding in 52 days – unheard of. With God, all things are possible. However, our part is to show up ready to work with Him and in His strength – He brings His joy to bear and strengthens us once again.
Love – and well, you asked 🙂 ~ Nancy
Thank you for your reply! I forgot about that account from Nehemiah, in building the wall. Both hands equipped. Love that image. 🙂 Blessings.
True words of Life. I must often, remind myself, “signing up with Jesus” is very costly . It costs my all & He has it, but yes, “gonna still fight my flesh”,. Thanking God that, “the same Power (no more “if”) that raised, Christ from the dead, dwells in me, He quickens , (even) my mortal body. Not by might nor by power, but by the His Holy Spirit, my Faithful BEST Friend ❣💘🙌
Love that we share the same cry, Sis, “More of Him”. 🥰💓😘
Costly, yes, but there is nothing else worth such a price than to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Daily “more of Him”, amen. Love you ♥