STAND FIRM!

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” Ephesians 6:10 ESV.

During these wonderful months of HEARTstrong, I have been feeling many things.  Some I don’t yet understand. But I have been feeling the Lord drawing me closer, filling me with a desire to lean more into Him and His Word.  That word “PREPARE” that dropped in my heart before I knew about HEARTstrong, still keeps coming up. And I’ve been eager to “lean in” more, pray more, learn more of His Word and let it sink deeper.  I know many have encountered the same.  What a warm feeling!  I feel like our Potter is shaping us more to be like Christ, to be who He created us to be.  He is preparing us, giving us a purpose, and all for His glory.  But in all this glorious time I spent with God, I also felt the enemy up to his game.  My mind would clog, the feeling of inadequacy would heighten. Not good enough kept probing into my head, and a few times, I was brought to tears of frustration, wondering…am I doing the right thing?  Am I going in the right direction?  That feeling I was being pulled in different directions…sometimes being pulled apart.

I love our 6:00 a.m. gatherings, but the early morning is my time with my Abba.  I love the peace and quiet. I feel like I’m that deer panting for water with a desire to hear from our LORD.  No distractions; nothing has happened that I need to think about. So, I make sure I’m up to spend prayer time with God before I join my lovely brothers and sisters at 6:00 a.m. It’s just me in the moment as I smile and invite Holy Spirit into everything.  I’m a morning person, so that works for me.

But one morning, I was struggling.  I felt like I was in a fog, and I didn’t even feel like talking to the Lord. I just wanted to sit like “a lump,” but I knew as I sat there, something was wrong.  Then He showed up.  I didn’t even say anything, but He saw my gloom, and I heard His gentle whisper….”Put on my armour.”  He knew my struggle. I realized at that moment I had not spoken His armour for a long time.  So, I opened Ephesians 6:10 and just began to read and pray.  I realized the importance of each piece of His Armour, and by the time I grasped onto the Sword of the Spirit, I could feel the fog lift, and I was ready to join into the zoom devotional.  I felt more like myself.

But something else happened as that gloom was lifting.  I felt stirred and excited to know God’s Word more…more in my head, more in my heart to know it so well it just flows from my mouth.  I had that moment of knowing the importance of the memory verses.  I love God’s Word, and I’m in it every day.  I talk to God about it, and I pray over it.  But I do struggle with memorizing scripture, even if I understand it.  I cringe at the thought of having to “tax” my brain with memorizing.  And I know I’m not alone.   So, I made a commitment.

Now in my morning prayer time, I speak Galatians 2:20 (my life scripture), Romans 8:38-39 (God’s amazing love), the current month’s memory verse and the verse of the month before, and now the armour of Ephesians 6.  God has also stirred me to learn some of Isaiah 61, so I speak (and have memorized) verses 1-3(a)(so far).  I’m still learning.  Then (almost) every night, I write out the current month’s memory verse, even if I know it, and I write out Isaiah 61, adding on verses as I learn.

Since I’ve been doing this, I’m finding that I’m feeling stronger, saying them (and even writing them) with more conviction.  Even though I know the meaning in my head and heart, I realize the depth of believing them.  God’s love is so deep, and I realize His Word goes so deep.  I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I LOVE memory work.  There, I said it! Even if I have to take my time and allow it not only in my heart but to flow through my veins, I want to know it more.  I don’t know what will happen after HEARTstrong; I almost tear up at the thought, but I know I will continue to add to my “repertoire” of verses and continue to speak and write them out.  When I thank God for His provision, His Word is always included.

Maybe in that foggy morning, I surrendered my weaknesses and can now say confidently that the LORD is my helper and I will not fear and yes, I know…what can man do to me?  Now, as I memorize His Word, I really do feel strong in the Lord as I let the power of Christ rest upon me. I stand firm!

Thank You, God, for Your Word, that’s alive and active and speaks truth, love, correction, reveals boundaries and discerns us.  What a beautiful gift to be able to hear You God through your Word that breaths life and meaning, light and purpose as we allow each word into our being.  Let Your Word go deep as we soak it in.  I pray we find Your strength as we dress in Your Armour and stand firm.  Your Word is a lamp to our feet and light to our path.  Guide us as You speak into our hearts and minds, and we drink in all You desire us to learn.  But Father, let us not just be listeners to Your Word, but also doers, as we walk in the footsteps of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, in Whose name we pray….Amen.