Sunrise. I have always thought about sunrises and sunsets as God's own special living painting for us to show us just a small piece of His greatness and His glory. On this specific day I got up very early and was excited to watch yet another breaking of the day as the darkness will be chased away by the red, orange and yellow colors playing on the horizon. Staring out over the ocean it slowly became lighter and lighter but as it got lighter my disappointment grew more and more -the dark clouds were blocking the rays of the sun. Feeling cheated and grumbling about getting up very early just to stare at dark clouds I asked God were His beautiful sunrise is. The answer? "It is still there, you just have to look at it from above the clouds."
Knowing that the sun will rise again tomorrow I left to go and face the day, not yet knowing that through this sunrise God was preparing me for this specific day and teaching me a lesson that I would carry with me the rest of my life…
Later this day I had to greet a team member who decided to leave our 'family' and fly back to South Africa.
Life is many times like a sunrise. Some days you will get to see the sun and all the different glorious colors it displays and other days the devil is going put clouds in your way to try and convince you that while you can't see the sunrise it is not there. This is where faith comes in. Faith, that the sun is shining above the clouds – just because I can't see it doesn't mean it is not there.
Life is a battlefield and it is our choice on whose side we are going to fight. The kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of light.It is also our choice whether we are going to step up to the position the Sergeant has called us for, or if we are going to choose or stay at home. Staying home is not necessarily a negative thing, some people are called by the Sergeant to stay at home. He knows that food has to be planted, and harvested, cattle have to be looked after, houses have to be build and children have to be raised so they can also one day enter the battlefield.
If you are the one staying at home here is one question I want to ask you: Do you go about your everyday chores with the battle in mind? Do you plant and harvest with the battle in mind? Do you help to raise the children with the battle in mind? Knowing that one day they might be called for this battle.
We all have a different role to play but unfortunately to many times we see capable soldier back home drinking tea on their back porch, reading the headlines on the 'battlefield newspaper' and giving their comments on how those on the battlefield can improve but never entering the battle themselves – or even worse denying that there is a battle going on.
Personally I know the Sergeant has called me to fight in this battle and I am prepared to put my life on the line because I believe in what I am fighting for.Prepared to stand in the frontline, because I know I was called to this position by an Official much higher in authority than me, who is positioning everybody so that the best strategy is in play.
Going out to fight we know that the devil has a strategy as well. Staying close to your Sergeant who knows the opposition you learn a lot about the different tactics and weapons of the enemy.
Doubt... One of the biggest weapons the devil has against us. He lets us doubt in what we stand for, our purpose, our authority, and in the end our Savior. It makes you believe that when you lose one battle that the war is lost
Fear... The thing keeping you from fighting. Fear of the unknown, fear of the future, fear of the past. The fear and uncertainty that goes together with stepping up and going to the battlefield is so many times the oppositions tactic to keep the soldiers from fighting and is what that keeps them home.
Lies... One of the strongest weapons used against us multiple times and it is usually aimed at our weak spots.This weapon convinces people that they are not called to fight. This weapon pulls people from light into darkness. Lies from the kingdom of darkness is used against those that haven't made a choice yet and for those that are not on guard against this weapon it convinces them that the kingdom of darkness is the winning kingdom.
Light vs. Darkness...
Truth vs. Lies...
Love vs. Fear...
Sunrise vs. clouds…
Looking at the sunrise knowing that it will keep rising each day till that one day when the sun won't rise again but it will be replaced by the glory of God that will make darkness flee. That day the battles will stop because the war has long ago already be won.
Ephesians 6:10-20
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 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. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.