6/30/23
“Until we come to terms with war as the context of our days, we will not understand life. We will misinterpret 90 percent of what is happening around us and to us. It will be very hard to believe that God’s intentions toward us are life abundant; it will be even harder not to feel that somehow we are just blowing it. Worse, we will begin to accept some really awful things about God. That four-year-old little girl being molested by her daddy— that is “God’s will ”? That ugly divorce that tore your family apart—God wanted that to happen too? And that plane crash that took the lives of so many—that was ordained by God?
Most people get stuck at some point because God appears to have abandoned them. He is not coming through. Speaking about her life with a mixture of disappointment and cynicism, a young woman recently said to me, “God is rather silent right now.” Yes, it’s been awful. I don’t discount that for a moment. She is unloved; she is unemployed; she is under a lot. But her attitude strikes me as deeply naive, on the level of someone caught in a cross fire who asks, rather shocked and with a sense of betrayal, “God, why won’t you make them stop firing at me?” I’m sorry, but that’s not where we are right now. It’s not where we are in the Story. That day is coming, later, when the lion shall lie down with the lamb and we’ll beat swords into plowshares. For now, it’s bloody battle.
It sure explains a whole heckuva lot.
You won’t understand your life, you won’t see clearly what has happened to you or how to live forward from here, unless you see it as battle. A war against your heart.”
Excerpt from
Waking the Dead
John Elderedge
This concept of war against my heart was revolutionary in how I saw life when it was first presented to me. As I’ve known of this reality for a while I appreciate the reminder & it reorients me, jars me back in to the reality of the facts about God & His world. In this passage Elderedge writes about some big things that are going on in this woman’s life & how her perspective, how she see’s God’s relationship to the world, is way off track & far from God’s reality. How this concept is apparent in my life today is in my view points & attitudes towards things, what’s known as my “beliefs”.
I easily & seamlessly drift into paying attention to all the things I don’t like about a thing, a person or situation. This pissy perspective are assaults on my heart & the result is “hurt people (& hearts), hurt people”. The guilt I feel for hurting others as a result of my bad attitude can bring about some change however unless I address the assaults when they come I don’t stand a chance of being transformed as Paul & Jesus promised.
The force that has already lost the war (evil vs. God) hasn’t surrendered, he continues his assault & since he can’t defeat me through the typical & conventional ways he goes after my heart through my mind, through my perspective & attitude.
I deserve better than this needs to be replaced with Thank You for Your loving provision; I don’t feel like it replaced with Thank You for the opportunity to; they aren’t acting right replaced with What Does Love require of me. What attacks small or large is the enemy advancing on you? What is the counter narrative, how does God see the situation?
Papa,
You know the enemies attacks & his assaults on my heart today. Thank You for your promise & delivery of provision, care & love. Thank You that Your ways are greater than mine, Your thoughts greater than mine. I’m so glad that the war is won & You prevailed. Thank You that Your Holy Spirit, Your strength, Your might & Your power lives in me. Today & at this very moment I receive & claim Your victory of the evil one. I identify with Your Kingdom, Your victory, Your love, Your grace. Thank You for the opportunity to participate & be present for Your blessings. Thank You that all of this is Your blessing for me to unwrap. Every day, every moment is like Christmas morning with an unlimited supply of presents, Your presents to me all to be unwrapped & marveled over & enjoyed. Your love & grace is on the surface & beneath each layer I peal back. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.
Your Beloved,
Alan
Amen!
What a wonderful perspective on release from the bondage of self, my thoughts, my ideas, my little plans and designs. Today I will thank God for opportunities. Thank you, babe, for sharing.