Instinctively, I am one who loves to fight back.
I resurrect walls to keep others from hurting me.
I walk with a shield to keep things from getting past me.
I respond with defensiveness to make sure the fortress stays secure.
I grab my weapons so others know that I am a well-protected woman.
Bottom line, I am a fighter. I am a regular defender of my own causes.
But, God is calling me to surrender.
He is calling me to wave my white flag.
To lay it all down.
It’s not so much that he doesn’t want me to be a warrior, but it is that I have been going about it the wrong way.
While I have thought, arm up, he says, “Lay it down.”
While I have thought, keep safe, he says, “Go risky.”
While I have thought, protect, he says, “Let me be the protector.
He requests one position of me that is the ultimate military gambit. It is one condition that changes the whole battlefield. He calls me to it.
Will I lay down my plans? My armors to make this change?
Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the LORD. (2 Kings 22:19)
What is this condition the Lord desires?
It is an open, vulnerable, humbled and receptive heart.
It is a heart where walls are down, where weapons are abandoned
and doors lay wide open so the Lord can enter in and best do his work.It is a heart where God teaches us the moves
and the tactics that will change our lives.It is a heart where our arms learn to embrace
the Father like we never have before.
In this, we no longer need to wage war on our own because the ultimate Warrior is directing us. Why do you need yourself, when you have someone far greater than you leading you? What use are your weapons when you now have his?
We can trust that this ultimate General knows the best way for us and can take care of us better than we could ever take care of our selves.
“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Ex. 14:14)
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I am delighted to linkup today with Suzanne Eller’s #LiveFreeThursday and Five Minute Friday.
Kelly, love reading what you wrote again this Friday! And once again, we’re on similar wavelengths here. SO resonate with what you shared. Thank you! Especially this:
“I resurrect walls to keep others from hurting me.
I walk with a shield to keep things from getting past me.
I respond with defensiveness to make sure the fortress stays secure.
I grab my weapons so others know that I am a well-protected woman.”
I have seen that played out in so many ways this week in parenting – and God is so faithful to reveal it, isn’t He? And to remind us that HE IS OUR FORTRESS! He’s our strong defender … we need only to be still and know.
Your words are a blessing! Thank you.
Thank you. I am glad it spoke to you. Yes, let’s be still this week Heather. Let’s let his hand guide all that we do.
Hi Kelly, I love the scripture “Exodus 14:14”. thank you for sharing this post on 5minute friday.
God Bless
Thank you. This is one of my favorite verses – God is always at work FOR us!
Kelly, this posts resonates with me. Truly, your best work that I’ve read so far. And I love your work and your words. God is wielding a mighty sword with you, sweet friend.
Lay it down. He’s got yours for you!
Wow Susan. Thank you. You bless me. I am laying it down – it’s no good.
Ah, it’s so easy to get caught up in the world’s view that we have to fight for our rights, isn’t it? When I look back over my life and analyze the differences between the times I’ve done the fighting and the times I’ve let God do the fighting–what a difference! It’s hard to be open and vulnerable, but it’s harder still to be self-satisfied and vindictive.
It is so easy Anita. We have so much less anxiety and stress when he fights for us!
Kelly, you had me with your first line. Most of my life I was ready to fight back, to defend myself if I was being wrongly accused, and I could go on. I’ve been slowly realizing through the years that I don’t need to defend myself. God knows all about it and He’s the One I am accountable to. While I do acknowledge that there are times we need to speak up, we need to do it in a calm way following God’s leading. It’s so easy to blast away on our own without stopping to think but God wants us fully surrendered to Him. He will fight for us.
That is right, we just need to let Go and let God! I am so glad Gayl that he has grown you so much on this journey. It takes time, but he DOES work!
“He requests one position of me that is the ultimate military gambit.” Love this Kelly! How true this is for all of us. Your transparency is a blessing! Stopping over from #livefree. Have a great weekend! 🙂
Thank you so much for visiting Cindy! It is a pleasure to have you from #LiveFreeThursday! XOXO
This: “It’s not so much that he doesn’t want me to be a warrior, but it is that I have been going about it the wrong way.”
A truth I have had to reconcile in my own life.
Great post!
Thank you Liz. I am so glad that you enjoyed it and that God may be calling you to examine it. Much love to you.
The Lord has certainly been working on me in the area of humility. Humbling myself doesn’t come easy. And depending on Him completely has been a hard lesson to learn. But He is so faithful! Thanks, Kelly, for reminding me to surrender it all to Him and follow, no matter where He leads.
The pleasure is all mine Sabra. It ia a joy to follow our Lord, when we can let go of our ways. Thank you so much for your comment.
My weapons are puny next to His. How much do I choose to forget that… and His name, Mighty Warrior, Strong Tower, these do not leave room for me to second guess Him on the battle field… heartfelt thanks for such truthful words, Kelly.
Well said sweet friend! I feel strength from the word and prepared to lay down the walls!
Thank you Jodie. He has us covered with his Word and forging through the walls of inadequacy. Amen!