Off to War

Hello readers. Today, I declared war. I've spent most of the morning readying my weapons for battle. Not swords or knives (though I have some of those), but lists. 

I don't know if any of you have seen the movie War Room. It is fabulous, and if you haven't you definitely should. Not only is it massively inspirational, but it is just a great story.

Without ruining the plot for anyone, the movie focuses on the power of prayer, and several characters in the story build war rooms- rooms devoted just to praying. They fill them with Bible verses and prayer lists, and document answered prayers.

I know you don't need a separate room to talk to God, but I like the idea of an...intimate, space reserved just for me and him. A special place to lay out battle plans free of distractions. Mine probably wont be a war room. My house is small and all the rooms are being used, and we don't have closets like they did in the movie. But I have a bulletin board in the corner of my room, and I plan to make a war corner. 

In the midst of my life trying to spiral out of control, I've finally arrived at the conclusion that I can't fix it. No matter how tight I hold on, it could all get ripped out of my hands. No matter how hard I scream and fight, it doesn't do any good. I'm not strong enough. I don't have the power. I need the one who is to take control of things for me. He can see the whole picture. He knows where all the pieces need to be. Maybe he is okay with what feels like a catastrophe to me. Maybe he is going to use it to grow me up into something better. I'm trying to keep reminding myself of that as I make plans for my war. I can't fix them. So I'm going to pray for them. These people aren't my enemies. Satan is my enemy. I can let the actions of theses people affect me for good, or bad. That is a choice I have to make everyday.

I need to make my faith my own. I can't keep it up to benefit others. It is for me and God. I have to live my life in a way that God can bless me and use these attacks to make me strong, not break me down. Maybe I'll learn patience. Maybe I'll gain faith. Maybe I'll be able to bite my tongue when people spread lies about me, instead of trying to get back at them. 

In church we read in Isaiah 45.7  

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

God creates evil? It stumped me. But no, God is not the founder of moral evil. He didn't establish murder, lying, and thievery. But he does allow bad times in our life. Hard times, where sometimes bad things happen. And he uses those to grow us to where he wants us to be. 

Nothing sneaks up on God. None of what is going on is a surprise for him. He's got it covered way better than I ever could. So I'm turning the fight over to him. Instead of warring against them, I'll go to war for them in prayer. The battle is the Lord's. 

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Peter 5:7