He fights for me...
I currently have a lot of thoughts spiraling about in my head. These are thoughts that I think are supposed to fit together somehow. Here's hoping I can make that happen on what braincells I have left for this day.
I have, since I began this endeavor, been hovering in the Old Testament. This week I wrapped up the book of Joshua and started into the book of numbers.
Here is the thing, the Israelites had a lot of enemies. In order to go into the the land that the Lord had promised them, they would have to fight some battles to accomplish this.
One of the first stops in the book of Joshua is the infamous battle of Jericho. I realized as I read it again, that I LOVE this story.
Let's face it. The whole situation is basically nonsense. Can you imagine if you were headed into a battle and your leader got you all together, ya know like Braveheart style, and then announce this battle strategy:
Joshua did have in his favor that they had just crossed another body of water on dry ground so this was fresh on the Israelites brains. I have to give them some kudos, they must have given the Lord and Joshua the benefit of the doubt. For seven days the people traipsed around the city.
This is why I love this story.
There is NO human way this plan could have EVER worked.
Only God could take something so nonsensical and turn it into a brilliant military strategy.
Now every Sunday school child knows what happened next.
The walls came a'tumblin' down.
God did it.
As long as the Israelites followed the Lords leading they had success. When they didn't...well things didn't go well.
I noticed a couple of things at the end of the book and the beginning of judges that really leapt out at me.
"The Lord your God FIGHTS for you."
What a consolation. We are in a battle every single day but the Lord out God fights for us. All we have to do is position ourselves to let Him.
Sometimes He will lead us strange places like up against a giant sea or a huge wall. Sometimes His instruction will seem crazy. Don't go around, go through. Don't attack, walk in circles. When we are obedient to His leading we cannot fail.
The Israelites made a mistake though. I was reminded of it as I began reading Judges. They forgot to love the Lord by following His most basic instruction. Don't leave even a remnant of the sinful nations among.
How often are we tripped up in following the Lord because there is still a remnant of the old "sinful nation" in our hearts.
Maybe is a TV show we know leads are mind to places it shouldn't go, but we refuse to stop watching it. It's just a silly show, it's not hurting anyone.
Maybe it's a toxic relationship we should have walked away from a long time ago but we keep returning to it like a dog returns to it's vomit.
Maybe it's a secret addiction that no one knows about but we return to it over and over again when know one is watching.
Perhaps it's a mindset of cherishing thoughts and ideals that belonged to the "old man" they are in total conflict with the "new man" we are so desperately trying to become.
The list could go on and on.
Take a moment to consider what some bits of remnant may be in your life. I know I have far more than I should but little by little the Lord is helping me weed them out. He will help you too.
How do we weed these things out and walk in victory? Just like it said in the verse, Love the Lord your God.
Matthew 22:37 says:
Mind. Body. Spirit.
I think that is what the Lord is saying is the greatest command, in Matthew 22. Love the Lord your God and let Him infiltrate every part of you. When you do this, He will weed out the remnant. He will clean up what's left behind. He will rip sin out and He won't leave the roots
You see, just like He did for the Israelites, the Lord fights for you.
No matter what enemy you come up against. No matter what armies you face.
Stand strong. You are NOT in this alone.
Be COURAGEOUS.
The Lord Himself will fight for you. All He wants in return is all of you.
I will lay my head on the pillow tonight with a joy, a confidence and a deep feeling of gratitude.
I do not need to fear,
I can be brave.
Because no matter what comes my way...
The one who parted the Red Sea and the Jordan River so His people could cross on dry land. The one who made the walls of Jericho crumble and fall. The one who made water from rocks, fed with manna and quail and made the sun stand still in the sky...
He fights for ME.
I have, since I began this endeavor, been hovering in the Old Testament. This week I wrapped up the book of Joshua and started into the book of numbers.
Here is the thing, the Israelites had a lot of enemies. In order to go into the the land that the Lord had promised them, they would have to fight some battles to accomplish this.
One of the first stops in the book of Joshua is the infamous battle of Jericho. I realized as I read it again, that I LOVE this story.
Let's face it. The whole situation is basically nonsense. Can you imagine if you were headed into a battle and your leader got you all together, ya know like Braveheart style, and then announce this battle strategy:
"Ok so here's the plan, we're going to line up and walk around the city. The priests are going to lead the way. For six days we are going to do this. Make sure that you stay quiet while we do this. Now on the seventh day we are going to go ahead and march around seven times. At the end of the last time around on my signal the priest will blow their horns and we will all shout. After that we're pretty much done. It should be good to go from there."Ummmmm can you say military coup? Ok, so I may have paraphrased a bit, but is some guy told me this was the genius plan I would question it.
Joshua did have in his favor that they had just crossed another body of water on dry ground so this was fresh on the Israelites brains. I have to give them some kudos, they must have given the Lord and Joshua the benefit of the doubt. For seven days the people traipsed around the city.
This is why I love this story.
There is NO human way this plan could have EVER worked.
Only God could take something so nonsensical and turn it into a brilliant military strategy.
Now every Sunday school child knows what happened next.
The walls came a'tumblin' down.
God did it.
As long as the Israelites followed the Lords leading they had success. When they didn't...well things didn't go well.
I noticed a couple of things at the end of the book and the beginning of judges that really leapt out at me.
For the Lord has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God. For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, Joshua 23:9-12There are some words in that section that keep ringing through my mind. They are words that I have read elsewhere as I have traversed the desert with the Israelites.
"The Lord your God FIGHTS for you."
What a consolation. We are in a battle every single day but the Lord out God fights for us. All we have to do is position ourselves to let Him.
Sometimes He will lead us strange places like up against a giant sea or a huge wall. Sometimes His instruction will seem crazy. Don't go around, go through. Don't attack, walk in circles. When we are obedient to His leading we cannot fail.
The Israelites made a mistake though. I was reminded of it as I began reading Judges. They forgot to love the Lord by following His most basic instruction. Don't leave even a remnant of the sinful nations among.
How often are we tripped up in following the Lord because there is still a remnant of the old "sinful nation" in our hearts.
Maybe is a TV show we know leads are mind to places it shouldn't go, but we refuse to stop watching it. It's just a silly show, it's not hurting anyone.
Maybe it's a toxic relationship we should have walked away from a long time ago but we keep returning to it like a dog returns to it's vomit.
Maybe it's a secret addiction that no one knows about but we return to it over and over again when know one is watching.
Perhaps it's a mindset of cherishing thoughts and ideals that belonged to the "old man" they are in total conflict with the "new man" we are so desperately trying to become.
The list could go on and on.
Take a moment to consider what some bits of remnant may be in your life. I know I have far more than I should but little by little the Lord is helping me weed them out. He will help you too.
How do we weed these things out and walk in victory? Just like it said in the verse, Love the Lord your God.
Matthew 22:37 says:
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."Something the Lord has instilled in my mind over and over on this path has been the idea of giving my whole self to Him.
Mind. Body. Spirit.
I think that is what the Lord is saying is the greatest command, in Matthew 22. Love the Lord your God and let Him infiltrate every part of you. When you do this, He will weed out the remnant. He will clean up what's left behind. He will rip sin out and He won't leave the roots
You see, just like He did for the Israelites, the Lord fights for you.
No matter what enemy you come up against. No matter what armies you face.
Stand strong. You are NOT in this alone.
Be COURAGEOUS.
The Lord Himself will fight for you. All He wants in return is all of you.
I will lay my head on the pillow tonight with a joy, a confidence and a deep feeling of gratitude.
I do not need to fear,
I can be brave.
Because no matter what comes my way...
The one who parted the Red Sea and the Jordan River so His people could cross on dry land. The one who made the walls of Jericho crumble and fall. The one who made water from rocks, fed with manna and quail and made the sun stand still in the sky...
He fights for ME.
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