At first I was burdened–heavy hearted– but after several blows, I was rippin’ mad. Mama bear mad. The devil had dished out his fury and this mama went stompin’ it out with Jesus in the garden and in the name of Jesus declaring, “Enough! Get your filthy hands off my boy! He belongs to Jesus!”
Sometimes you have to shake your fist at the enemy and remind him Who’s in charge. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
I might have looked like a lunatic as I walked it out — stomped it out — with a determined pace that was storming the gates of heaven. When somebody messes with your kid you really don’t care what you look like. All bets are off. This means war! These kids of mine belong to Jesus. And to the enemy…HANDS OFF! Don’t mess with this Mama or her babies! The blood of Jesus covers us!
You can wrestle it out in prayer until you begin to go into all out battle and fight for those you love. You can get stompin’ mad until you call on Jesus to step on the head of the enemy and stomp him out. The mamas and the daddies are marching around the enemy walls and the walls are crumbling as we sing praises to God! The battle belongs to the Lord.
“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.” And to that enemy you see today–“…you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14 NIV)
And in case we need another reminder … “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you …before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” (Deuteronomy 1:30-31 NIV)
And I stomp it out in prayer to Jesus as I walk in the garden and He speaks to me …
In a world where it seems all has gone wrong — God continues to give His promises that He will make all things right! He is still faithfully showing up in His creation giving beauty — season after season.
God is still here. He’s still working. He’s still planting …still harvesting. Still pruning …still blooming. Still plowing up the soil …still designing landscapes of abundant fruit in our lives — a display of His splendor and nourishment for others.
And my fingers are stomping out these truths on this keyboard …
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
“All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children’s peace.”
“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.”
“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.”
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you…lift up your eyes and look about you…your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy…”
“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.” (from Isaiah 54, 59, 60, 64 NIV)
When it feels like all the world has gone to pot, surely our cup runneth over and His “goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”
And when fear has drained the color from our faces, His blood runs red — covering us with a flush of His radiant countenance.
And when the lies of “He loves me not” sprout up, the answer is always and forever — “He Loves me!”
YES! Jesus loves me!
And maybe you need to hear these words from God that He is making all things new and His word will stand forever and these enemies…well, they are are under His feet …
“What if the Lord had not been on our side?…
They would have swallowed us alive …
The waters would have engulfed us;
a torrent would have overwhelmed us.
Yes, the raging waters of their fury
would have overwhelmed our very lives.
Praise the Lord,
who did not let their teeth tear us apart!
We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap.
The trap is broken, and we are free!
Our help is from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
And maybe you need to walk with God in the garden and stomp it out with Him over those you love …over those who are feeling beaten down and oppressed. There is a River …there is Hope for the hurting …there is Healing …and His name is Jesus.
When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident. (Psalm 27:2-3 NLT)
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
And I’ll walk it out with Jesus again today and stomp it out if I have to. And I’ll declare … I. Will. Trust. God!
*Photos taken at the Huntsville Botanical Garden where I often #walkitoutwithJesus .
**Singing THIS SONG as I #walkitoutwithJesus today. “Victory has a name …and it’s Jesus.” — (“Amen” — feat. Charity Gayle and Joshua Sherman)
Joy, this timely and truthful writing blessed me in a very personal and powerful way…almost as if it had been written for me. Actually, I guess it WAS written for me, since I believe the Spirit led me to it. Thank you. Love you.
Ooh Beth!! The Holy Spirit is amazing in how He speaks to all of us right where we need it. Walking it out in prayer with you!
Wow, sounds like a Waters- Brownlee fit to me.
Haha !! You are so right Daniel George! So right. I learned from the best ! 🙂 Love you!