Ready? Or Not.

For about a month, I have been engrossed in stories of war, which is interesting because I hate anything having to do with violence. I can watch it in movies, but if it’s real life, it literally makes me nauseous.

But testimonies from war heroes, combat strategies, and the physical training people undergo to prepare for battle have been churning through my brain lately. It’s like I can’t get enough of it and I find myself being really inspired by it.

As I have been processing this, I also came across a video of a man describing Gideon preparing for battle. Specifically, the selection process when God told Gideon to gather his men and take them to the water. The men who got down and lapped the water like dogs were not the ones to go into battle with him. The men that cupped the water to their mouths were the ones he needed to take. This part isn’t in the Bible, but the man in the video described Gideon’s chosen men as drinking with their spears clutched in hand and their eyes up, set on the horizon. The visual I got from the message of this video stayed with me for days as I kept telling myself to keep my eyes on the horizon when I felt things trying to drag me down.

I didn’t really know why I had been traveling down this big rabbit hole, either. I thought maybe it was just a random phase being matched with algorithmic circumstances until….

A couple of days after seeing this video, I was scrolling through Amazon Prime trying to find something good to watch, and the “Terminal List” caught my eye. At this point, the new season hadn’t come out, so I decided to watch it again so that I would remember what happened. I actually ended up watching it all in one day, haha.

Then, about a week and a half later, the new season came out. So I started watching it. Without ruining anything, in episode 6, Reese had a memory of his mom lying in her sickbed. She looked over at him and literally said, almost word for word, the video I had seen weeks earlier regarding Gideon’s story!

What???

I was shocked! She even said the part about keeping their eyes on the horizon…which, again, is not even in the Bible! I looked up, raised my hands, and said out loud: “Ok! I hear ya, Lord!!!”

I didn’t know why I was all of a sudden deep diving into military stories, or hearing about Gideon in a random social media scroll, or even deciding to watch Terminal List on a whim! I mean to think about all these “random” incidents coming together and meeting at that one single moment.

I knew God was telling me something!

I’m not exactly sure what it even all means, other than war is upon us, and we need to be prepared.

Yes, we have been hearing to prepare for a physical war, but there is definitely a spiritual one we need to be ready for as well. We cannot have our heads down, oblivious to what’s going on. We must have our weapon in hand, our eyes up, and be ready for battle.

With all of this, I was also recently reminded that back in 2015, when I first moved to South Texas, the Lord spoke to me at a church conference while I was in prayer. He said,  “I am teaching you to know war.” I had no idea what that would all include, but man, ‘o man, He wasn’t lying!

Looking back at all I have been through over the last 10+ years, war would be a great word for it! And, in hindsight, if there’s one thing I wish I had done differently, it would have been to take His Word more seriously by being more prepared, which is probably why He is reminding me of that moment again, ha.

Ironically, or maybe not at this point, I have been reading through the Bible and have just finished the Book of Revelation. It never ceases to amaze me that people will experience all the horrific things coming and still not turn to Jesus! I know we see it now with people, but this is severe stuff coming, and people will still choose not to believe. It’s unfathomable.

It truly breaks my heart because a lot has happened, but so much more is coming.

Truly, nothing really fazes me anymore in the news. It’s all expected according to the Bible. My main thing is that I just want to be prepared, and that’s what I feel God’s message is to us right now.

We need to get our heads out of the nonsense filling our minds and taking our attention and focus on God! Seek Him and find out what He’s wanting us to do.

Don’t get caught up in all the noise and drown out His voice, His calling, and yes, even His warning. Don’t give up in the training and don’t run in fear at the sight of the enemy.

Because what I find to be the most interesting part of Gideon’s story is that Gideon was facing an enormous army of over 100,000 people. He started with 32,000 men, which was hardly anything. Then, when asked, 22,000 quit out of fear! Leaving only 10,000 men, whom God instructed Gideon to then take to the water, and only 300 made the final cut. That’s right! God only allowed 300 men to go with Gideon to face an army of over 100,000 men. But the story doesn’t end in their defeat! Because of strategy, the opposing army turned on each other and ended up fleeing in fear.

Yes! Because Gideon’s army made a lot of noise at an unexpected time, the opposing army became fearful, ran, and defeated themselves! Gideon’s army didn’t even have to fight! God gave them a strategy that worked so perfectly that not a single sword from Gideon’s army had to be used!

This just brings the scripture in Romans to life: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

He truly is our defender, leading us through everything.

All we have to do is obey and not be deceived by His delay. When it seems like evil is prevailing over good, just wait. He has a strategy; He has a time, and you will have your victory.

I love the scripture that says: "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14

Being still is so hard sometimes because it feels like defeat. I know it’s hard not to rush in to fight and defend yourself or those you love, but in most of those moments, we often end up doing more harm than good. This is why it is so important to stay close to the Lord and hear His instruction. He has a way; we need only to walk in it. (Isa. 30:21)

So let this be your reminder, as it has been mine.

Don’t be afraid and intimidated by the enemy. Have courage. Keep your eyes up with your spear in hand, and when God says it’s time, be ready to make some noise!

 

*Also, be in prayer for our military. The enemy may be great, but our God is always greater!