STAND [Dream Again Day 8]

This message is veering off the course I had already planned. Or perhaps it is right on course.

Do you know I’ve been walking forward, courageously afraid, through this dream series? I have had to press in and press through, as we all do at times, when we move forward from our comfort zone. I’ve been sharing from the deep places in my heart and offering the realest part of me. I’ve swirled words and ideas around in my head, and wondered what I should share. Maybe this is too much, or maybe it’s too little, or maybe no one will get it. Does it even make sense?

I’ve let go, and published the words by faith. Telling my story and sharing the truth that I have learned, with hopes it would bring more freedom to others in the body of Christ, to cast off restraint, and run this race before them as carriers of God’s glory. And that is my dream for you.

My dream for me is that my life would bring God glory. That I would help others find their purpose in Him. By being present, something I would do or say would help another find the Way.

And it took a giant leap of faith to begin. Sometimes starting is the hardest part.

If fear didn’t hinder you from starting to pursue your dream, when you get past the point of no return, another onslaught comes rushing in.

Do you ever wake up in the morning and it seems like a rogue wave of discouragement was waiting for you to wake-up so it can knock you down? A wave of discouragement that sweeps you off your feet and shrouds you in darkness that presses in all around before you ever saw it come? In confusion, you try to get back to you feet, and wonder what hit you?

You try and catch your barring, and the lies pummel, before you have a chance to make them out from the truth.

I raise my hand to say, “Yes, I’ve been battling this heaviness and these lies…”

“You’re wasting your time.”

“No ones going to get it.”

“You’ve disappointed them.”

“You think they want to read about your junk?”

“Who do you think you are?”

And then question, “What am I even doing here in the first place?”

I have a choice to make. We all do in this place.

We run and hide and give up, or we can encourage our own soul.

“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives]. (Isaiah 59:19 AMP)

And we can make a decision to stand firm. These directives encapsulate for us, the fight of faith.

“¹⁰Be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

¹¹Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

¹²For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

¹³Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

¹⁴Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

¹⁵And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.

¹⁶Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.

¹⁸Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).”

(Ephesians 6:10-18 AMP)

I’m doing all I know to do, to stand, and stand firmly in my place.

When I call upon His Name, Jesus, the darkness flees.

I’ve caught my breath. I’m moving forward from here.

Photo taken by a friend of my eldest beauty, who is pictured.