“Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14 (NIV)
While I spoke two posts ago about how God doesn’t want me to fight my children’s or friends’ battles for them because He’s inviting them into their own mission, it’s important for me to remember that concept for another reason as well.
God promises protection for the battles He invites me too, the ones that He wants me to fight. If I want His covering of protection, then I need to stay close to Him and make sure the battles I’m choosing to engage in are the ones He’s assigned me too.
I was reminded of a statement that impacted me greatly that our pastor spoke in the fall of 2013. We were new to the church at that time, but what He spoke stayed with me. I have used it as a litmus test of sorts in many different situations. He stated, “Doing less than what God asks is a sin. Doing more than what God asks is a sin. Only by doing exactly what God asks are we obedient.”
The weekend I was struggling with the enemy’s lies, I needed this particular reminder. You see, when I stopped listening to the enemy’s lies and began to focus again on God winning, I was ready to rush forward, guns blaring and take the hill. However, in my quest for God to get the glory, I thought I heard God whisper something pretty difficult and something I was incredibly inexperienced in. Then I was reminded of the above statement, “If God hasn’t invited me to the fight, I won’t have His protection” and what I was wondering about was not something I wanted to fight without His protection.
So, before rushing the hill and trying to win on my own, I pressed in and prayed harder. I haven’t heard anything affirmative, and in fact the situation has improved some, so before tackling a hill that I’m not sure was even part of the mission to begin with, I’ve slowed down and chosen to make sure the mission I’m on is the one God assigned. Not one step more, not one step less. Instead staying in step with God so that I’m certain I’m under His covering.
I want to encourage you my friend. When God gives us a mission and we choose to obey, He doesn’t want us to try and conquer the whole thing on our own. He’s inviting us to do our part, the part He chose for us and the part He’ll help us accomplish if we say “yes.” We aren’t weak if we stay in step with Him. Just the opposite, He’s glad we chose to obey and wants to help us live in the victory that He knows is waiting for us at the end.
Come back one more time for the last thing God taught me.
© 2016 Cheri Swalwell