Out of my control:
Writing exercise: Your best friend knocks on your door one afternoon. You open it and he or she is dressed in a strange costume. Before you can say anything, your friend hands you a sword and says, “I need your help. Your family’s life depends on it.” Your friend promptly opens what looks to be a porthole to another dimension, grabs your hand and jumps through.
This assignment is out of my control…and comfort zone! I have put it off until the 11th hour. Literally. No more!
#COMPELtip ~ Shut down social media. Turn phone to silent and upside down to minimize distractions…and WRITE.
John banged on the door, barged in, and grabbed my hand as he pulled me to the door.
I NEED you, he declared.
Okayyyy…no more studying for my 8 AM Botany final the next morning. Need is one thing. Want is another.
Out the dorm we dashed, piled into John’s car and off he pulled with a triumphant shout,
“ P A R T Y ~ T I M E!”
Seriously? Need? I need an A on my final, John!
Oh, it’s not that kind of party, Susan. We are headed to a meeting point. I’ll equip you in a moment. See that backpack behind you? Grab it and start gearing up.
WHAT are you talking about John? I don’t understand…
Keep digging, girl. We are almost there.
John, there’s a sword in here.
Pull it out Susan. You will want that with you for sure.
JOHN! What in the world are we doing?
Well, Susan, it’s kinda a long story. Keep digging, girl. What else did you find?
A shield. What did you say?
Great! Sword and shield. Sounds right. What else?
There’s some strings all bunched together. Oh, it looks like those tie-on Roman sandals.
Ok, put them on.
Put them ON?! Goodness gracious, John, what are we doing? I feel so out of control!
Keep digging. What else is in there? We’ve gotta be ready in about 2 more minutes. That’s when we meet with our team.
Meet? Team?
Yep, we’re almost there. Keep digging. What else is in there?
A bowl I think. No, OK, this is odd, it’s a helmet.
Put it on! We are a minute out. What else?
A piece of leather. Oh, it’s a belt!
Buckle up, girl! What else?
There’s some big metal piece down at the bottom I gotta pull out. Oh! It’s gorgeous. Look at all the etching on this!
What it is Susan? It’s gotta have a use or they wouldn’t have packed it for you.
They? Packed It…for ME?! What are you talking about John?!
Ok, we’re here. See that light over there. We are meeting up with our team there. What was that last thing you pulled out? Here, let me see that. Oh, that’s to cover your torso. Here, let me help you put this on.
JOHN! What in the WORLD is this about?
Susan, was there a book in the bag? Let me check, please. Yep, here it is. The Bible. OK, we are equipped. You have what you need to move to the next phase. Let’s go!
WHERE? John, tell me, where are we going?
To battle.
WHAT?! John, have you lost your ever-loving mind? What in the world do you mean we are going to battle? I have a test tomorrow!
Susan, we are about to enter a place where I NEED you. See, I am fighting a battle that can only be won with intervention. HOLY Intervention. We are going into spiritual battle for my friend’s soul and I NEED YOU with me, waging war.
I need you to step into the spiritual realm with me and help me be strong.
WHY? To create spiritual rape protection for each person we pray for.
We will gear up with the full armor of God. Have you SEEN that in the word of God ~ who we fight in the dark spiritual world and need protection from?
Rulers
Authorities
Powers of this dark world and spiritual forces of
Evil
Yes, you see that correctly…R A P E . Will you remember that?
Hold my hand now, we’re standing firm in the spiritual realm where I NEED you to be strong and pray…
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV) The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted (sandals in some versions) with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Thank you, John. I never knew. Now I do. This is in my control.
© 2016 by Susan B Mead. All rights reserved.
[inlinkz_linkup id=526227 mode=1]