Learning Lessons of War

Birthdays abound in our home during the month of May. May 10, 13, 18, and 28. So far we've not managed to celebrate a single one officially with the family. Little buddy had friends over for a bit of a party after church, but that has been it. So...

I guess we are too busy around here. Just plain too busy. But...

Some seasons demand such devotion to matters beyond the homefront. Consequently much must be sacrificed. For me and mine this is a time of intense battle. We've linked arms with others in this battle. When a soldier is thus engaged, he must set aside civilian entertainments. He is solely at the commander's beck and call. True, we busy ourselves with certain necessary daily duties. But our spare moments are filled with prayer meetings, personal prayer, time in the Word, letter writing, phone calls, discussions, more prayer, study of newly printed legislation, contacts with doctors, continued prayer, personal deliveries of important communiques to individuals in various towns , yet more prayer, and finally sleep.

Why? Hasn't God heard our initial prayer? Isn't it time to stand back and let Him do what He wants to do?

Complicated questions. Tangled situations. Schemes that are larger than imagined. The undoing of such schemes? How and when?

"Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all."

This I know: God is looking to us, His people in this situation, to take our places, to arise in His strength... His tiny, little people - just little ol' us. And in spite of our insignificance in the enemy's eyes, in spite of demons who mock and jeer, God will help us overtake such enemies and "without fail recover all". His name will be glorified. I am certain of this. And I cling tenaciously -- with stubborn resolve -- to that certainty.

I am learning to summon strength in battle, about personal equipping with weaponry delivered to individuals by the Holy Ghost, to hold fast the sword put in my hand, about faith being released through Word of God, of the enemy's wicked attempts to undermine such faith. I see the need to recognize my enemy, to call him what he is, to hate him with a vengeance, and to desire his absolute destruction. He is wicked, vile, slimy, and despicable. He dares to taunt the people of God? He sneers at our little attempts? Such a wicked thing mocks my speaking of the Word of God?

Ha! We may be a rag-tag simplistic lot cast off by this world, but we belong to Him. Ha! These enemies will tremble. Ha! They will NOT have the last word. Our God reigns. He is our defense. And He will be our help.

Little David triumphed in his battle. He was little, insignificant, and rag-tag. His natural weapon was little, insignificant, and rag-tag, too. But David didn't win that battle. God did. David knew victory because God was with him.

We will know victory, too, for the very same reason. Watch and see what the Lord will do.