Ever feel you’ve wandered into a desert place?

Stranded on a deserted island of desperate circumstances? Sort of in-between, stuck.

I faithfully watched Gilligan’s Island as a kid. Ridiculous at times, yet amusing to see the zany plans the cast would devise in their desperation to be rescued.

The entire show hinged on rescue.

What happens when we need a rescue?

As the theme song goes, the weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed. We can surely feel tossed like salad when the seas of life get rough.

Remember the next verse? If not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost.

God is calling us to have fearless courage. But life can be scary, making us feel like wimps in rough waters, nauseated and green. Lost.

Isn’t it true we can become comfortable in our deserts? As long as we’re in the desert, things are familiar. Dipping a toe out of the comfort zone can be more frightening than the desert places themselves.

So again I say, God is calling us to have fearless courage, to gear up and be brave. Our brave can look quite different than someone else’s, so let’s not compare.

If God is for us, who can be against us? Truth be told, it may not feel that way at times, but…

God is for us. He loves us always. It’s His character. It’s His promise.

By the way, God doesn’t send us into battle without the proper equipment. He has given us spiritual, supernatural armor. Not the kind David rejected, bulky and clunky. This armor fits like a glove.

Here’s the proof of truth:

“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;  praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”   Ephesians 6:10-18

God instructs us to stand. Let’s stand together. Let’s quench fiery darts and wield our Swords and raise our Shields. Where’s your sword of the Spirit? I hope it’s standing open, but if not, it’s time to dust it off. Don’t worry, it’s still as sharp as ever.

Love Dorothy’s ruby slippers, but clicking those heals together will get us nowhere. Hands lifted in praise and prayer? Exceedingly more powerful than we can even fathom.

The Holy Spirit is our guide, our Comforter, our Helper.

Let’s stand in fearless courage and be brave. Nothing is impossible with God.

Let’s gird our waists with truth. And what does Merriam-Webster.com say about the word gird?

  to prepare for action :  muster up one’s resources

Prepare for action and muster up heavenly resources.

Did you know resources include friends to stand with you in prayer? Friends who will stand with you in battle? If you don’t have true friends, pray for them. If you pray for them, they will come.

There are some serious fiery darts flying that need extinguishing.

Let your helmet of Salvation protect your mind from fear. When you are saved, He saves you. Rescued.

Need a rescue?

• When we feel desperate in the desert God will not desert us. The words desert, deserted, and desperate begin with the same sound. How about the sound of this: destiny and design.We were designed by God to fulfill a destiny. He has plans for us, and they’re not zany.
• When we feel nauseated and green, He is the calm to our storm.
• There’s water in the desert to dampen parched lips and quench dry souls. Jesus, Living Water. Drink Him in and we will never thirst.
• Hungry? The Bread of Life is free. Jesus, He is the Bread of Life.
• Those worldly things we like chasing after; wealth, fame, position… They’re a mirage. They don’t fulfill. They can disappear right before our eyes. Seek God, He’s real and He’s not going anywhere. He’s with us:

  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”                                                                                                                Joshua 1:9 NASB

   

Here’s a challenge: Share these passages of scripture to encourage at least one person this week. Your feet may be the ones meant to take them the gospel of peace.

Once you’ve shared the scripture verses, let us know in the comments.

See you on the battlefield.

Love In Christ,

Doris

Do you know Jesus, our Living Water and Bread of Life? He is the Way. Check out the Meet Jesus tab on this website. Surrender your life, and be changed.