Self-care for Captives

Week Twenty-Three - Dig Your Heels In

Stubbornness is a trait that runs in my family.  My grandfather even had a sign on the wall above his place at the table that read, “Don’t confuse me with facts; my mind is made up.”  And he meant it!  Once he set himself on something, he dug his heels in. You weren’t going to dislodge him by debate.  It was better to let him come to it himself.

 

I don’t want to talk about stubbornness today, but I do want to talk about digging our heels in.  If you look at Ephesians 6, you will read about the armor of God.  If we fit ourselves with the whole armor, we will be able to withstand the evil day.  Boy, do we need that kind of armor right now!

 

We have truth to protect our loins, righteousness to guard our heart, peace for our feet, faith against the devil’s fiery darts, salvation as a constant for our mind, and our sword is the Word of God. Every day we need to don our armor because the war is real.

 

I want us to look at two ideas here.  One is our feet, and the other is the promise.  I don’t know where I heard it, but someone was explaining about the phrase, “feet shod.”  Apparently, Roman soldiers had special sandals for war.  They were equipped with cleats to help them stand their ground in battle.  This idea of digging in our heels applies here.  We are to stand fast, stand securely, and having done all, the Bible says, to stand.

 

It reminds me of the reply of the Three Hebrew Children in Daniel 3:16-18. 

^“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

These boys stood for what they believed.  They dug their heels in, and God honored them.

They weren’t just being stubborn for no reason; they were standing for truth.  Their feet were shod.  They were prepared.  Are we prepared to stand for truth?  Standing for truth should bring peace because it gives a clear line of right and wrong.

 

Let’s look now at the promise.  This blesses my heart.  Ephesians 6:16 says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”  Do you see it?  It is there in that simple word, shall.  Ye SHALL be able.  The fiery darts are quenched by faith.  We are assured of victory.

 

1 John 4:4 and 5:4 say we overcome.  Not will or may, but overcome.  Matter of fact, 1 John 4:4 says, “have overcome.”  So, our victory is secure.  We can plant our feet in this promise.

 

We “shall be able.”  It is an emphatic statement—an absolute.  Satan’s darts will fall cold and lifeless as we stand prepared and defended by total faith.  Isn’t that amazing?  And standing is what we are to do.  To stand with the standard waving, ready to answer for the hope that lies within us, and to point others to that solid truth where they can stand as well.

 

So, here’s the thing.  Are our feet shod?  Are we standing in truth?  If worry, fear, hate, or anxiety are ruling in our hearts, we are unshod.  We are without cleats. 

 

Let’s dig our heels in a little deeper into the solid truth of God’s word and stand against Satan' darts by fervent prayer and in absolute faith.  We are assured of this promise—"ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” 

One Thing I Can Do

Things I'm Not Thankful For...Yet

Week Twenty-Two - Returning Well

I was privileged to participate in an online devotional through a Facebook group called Friends in Ministry this past week.  As I came to work on today’s blog, I thought you might also benefit from this thought. 

The other day, the British government started talking about ways to get us all out of our homes and back to work.  I have to be honest.  It caused me to panic a bit.  Not because I’m afraid of the virus, but because I have enjoyed having time at home, with the Lord, with Tom, and just to rest and think and be.  I don’t get extended times like this very often.  Do you?

Well, my little panic prompted me to get hold of my dear friend, RuthAnn, and I opened my brief moment of fear to her.  Can’t we be so thankful for good friends?  Friends, who don’t judge us, just let us be ourselves and love us anyway?  Well, we had a short chat online, and my little fear was quenched.

But, you know the Lord?  He heard my quivering heart, and just couldn’t let it drop! 

I picked up my Springs in the Valley devotional the next morning and began reading.  At first, I couldn’t figure out what the author was trying to say.  Something about Jesus being submissive for thirty years stuck at home with his brothers and sisters who did not believe in him and that He was our example in submission.  Okay.  And then—

“If God is putting you through a spell of submission, and you seem to be losing your individuality and everything else, it is because Jesus is making you one with Him.”  Right…that’s nice….so?

Then, the devotional begins telling the story of a doctor who had been on the front lines of the war treating the wounded.  He had been sent back to rest.  As he was taking a walk, enjoying the beauty of the earth, life seemed very sweet.  He was having a hard time thinking about going back to the front and the horrors of war.  “And, with that,” the devotion reads, “through the gap in the hedge there came a shepherd laddie tending his flock of some two dozen sheep.  He was not driving them with two barking dogs; he went first, and the sheep were following him; if one loitered, he called it by name, and it came running to him.  So, they moved on down the lane, up a little hill, up to the brow and over it, and out of the doctor’s life.  He stood staring, as he heard the words of John 10:4, “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them.” 

And, then the penny dropped!  I understood what God was saying to me.

“Gail,” He said, “Just as you have accepted isolation to be My hand, you must re-enter the world knowing I have called you to return. Rest for now, and enjoy our sweet communion, but then, Return – I am leading you back into service.  Don’t hesitate at the re-opening of life, but renew your commitment to follow.”

Ah, my heart began to pray, “Lord, let me go back better!  I’m so thankful for this time we have had together, and I know You go before me into tomorrow.  You are calling me to follow.  I must inhale the future, and exhale the past! Lord, give me the

grace to re-enter.”

You know, re-entering will require the same kind of faith and obedience that carried us through isolation.  We will need that confidence – that confident reckless abandon that says, “Here am I Lord, send me. “

So, let’s go forward knowing He is going before us. “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them.” John 10:4

Don’t be afraid of tomorrow; God is already there!

6 Things Mentally Strong People Do

Week Twenty-One - Alone

Genesis 2:18 reads, “And the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone.”

I had to laugh out loud!  If God said it wasn’t good for man to be alone, then why are we in this isolation?

I know there are times in life when we feel we need no comrade.  We want to be alone, to think, to pray, to have some peace and quiet, or just to let things process and regain our focus.  But the majority of us are gregarious.  We like to hear other voices and see other people and have some sort of physical contact.  Forced isolation is hard.

However, the vast majority of us are not really alone.  Most of us have at least one family member quarantined with us.  Some of you, however, might actually be the sole individual inside your four walls.  Maybe these thoughts will be an encouragement to you.

Think with me about these times when people were alone, and let’s see what we can draw for ourselves.

Isaiah was alone in the temple when he had a close encounter with the God of Eternity.

Joshua was alone near Jericho when the Captain of the Lord’s hosts met with him.

Jacob was alone at Bethel.  There, he wrestled with God and secured a blessing.

Mary was alone when the angel brought her the message of a coming Saviour.

Elisha was plowing alone when the mantle fell on his shoulders.

Noah was alone as he built the ark and took the long voyage.

Hagar was crying alone in the desert when God found her.

Moses was alone when he saw the burning bush.

Abraham wandered and worshiped alone.

Daniel dined and prayed alone.

Jesus lived and died alone.

Here’s the thing – when we are alone, we have a better chance of being joined by the One who makes our hearts burn.  One who generates hope and creativity.  The One who speaks to our deepest need. 

Sometimes, He wants us alone so He can come alongside. 

When God says is it not good that man should be alone, I know the reference is to the coming creation of woman, but can we look at it this way?

God knows we need company, and He is the best one with whom we can share our time.  We are never truly alone, for He is always there.  He will never leave us or forsake us.  He knows we need a companion and what better companion could we have?

So, in our isolation, let’s look for this Friend and see how He will work in our lives, what He will teach us, and the direction He has for our future.

If you haven’t yet taken time to get alone with Him, don’t wait!  Get into your prayer closet and spend some quiet time alone with the Lord.  Let Him speak to your heart and meet your need. He’s waiting to join you there.

If you are looking for more encouragement, please check out my video devotionals.  They can be found on the Beside the Well blog page, or on YouTube at my channel, Gail Gritts.  There is also a Kindle book entitled, Light that Shines, which is the script from the first twelve videos.  If you are feeling alone, please reach out!