These are a few of my favorite things.

March 19, 2006

Joel Akin

Time has a way of stealing life from us. A little wait here, a small portion here and before you know it we walk and wait and sit until the day is done and we are finished.

I didn't see my dad start to die this morning but he said it felt like he was dying. Its hard to watch the ages of time take their effect on my family. Its not that I don't have faith because I do. What I do see though is a war taking place and sometimes it seems that war has selected you as its vital opponent.

Being a selected target in this war perhaps should give one some comfort. After all if you are on the target list this means the enemy knows of you and has placed you in the kill zone. Knowing that you, your mother, your father are all part of that 'kill zone' means that you have to pray and praying to keep on until you get the victory.

It has been a war and I know that I am in it. At first it was one of those 'war has started' but then after a while you think "When will it end." War is like a firefight between two old enemies. Sometimes you get stuck right in the middle. And you want to make a difference but it seems like everything happens around you and occasionally you'll throw up a stick to block a missile but you are never sure who's missile you are knocking down.

So being in a spiritual war some may ask "Is this a skirmish?" If so it seems like a skirmish where you can't seem to hear God as clearly as you did before. There are few spiritual cases I am aware of where the enemy was able to block communications selectively. But if he did then we might ask "Does he fear your prayers?" If so we know that Satan is fighting this war based on a partial knowledge and understanding of what is taking place. Its probably like this in every battle.

I admit its 'not' one of my favorite things to fight this war. I would rather be fishing or traveling or talking with friends. But the fact the war is continuing around me against the ones I love and I find myself ready to take apart some one on the enemies side. Satan.

So instead of worrying I pray. And prayer really is not just about 'complaining' to headquarters and making your requests known but about listening. And listening is not easy. Its like trying to grasp at straws. And knowing that each straw is your last. I know that doesn't make sense but then again most straws are meant to be filled with hot air to make them work.

A spiritual warfare is about trust and trusting is about letting go and following Gods plan for your life. Is God guiding me? Yes. Is he helping me fight this war? Yes. Is there going to be an end? Of course it isn't going to end with Satan winning. Its about faith and trust and hope and faith in all the right places. God is in control and there is no power of death or of fathering lies that can prevent him from fulfilling his will and plan on earth.

And in the meantime I need some favorite things. I need hope and I need to let go of fear or concern for those I love. Not in the sense of ceasing hope but ceasing worry. God will take the darkest moment of our life and will give us the peace that passes understanding. With His help I will win and that is the key to a future that seems so uncertain.