Each of us, find ourselves going through battles. Some are
bigger than others. Sometimes it’s battles with life's circumstances, and
sometimes like it or not we find ourselves in opposition with one another.
A few months ago I found myself on a huge battlefield
facing my opposition. Knees shaking and wobbling as I approached the front line
I couldn’t help but hear the lyrics….
“Our God, Our God… And if our God is for
us, the who could ever stop us… And if God is with us, then what can stand
against? And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us…”
As I stood singing the lyrics and processing the battle I
was in with my opposition… I began to wonder...
God are you for me? Are you on my team? Will you ensure
victory?
I admit sadly I was struggling with the fact that the
actions of someone that "claimed" to be a Christian was in fact my opposition. My thoughts felt harsh because I wondered... Is my enemy standing and worshiping in another church singing this
very same song? Are you for them? How? When they aren't standing for your truth?
Oh God… how do you balance this when your opposition is
claiming you as their God too? How can you be for me? And be for them? Wow, Amy
that is pretty harsh… but as ridiculous as my thoughts were it was my heart’s
cry. I wanted him to answer me.
I thought to myself God you have to be on my team right?
That week I had been reading through Joshua… I saw Joshua
getting ready to begin his battle with the enemy. I felt relieved that when an angel of the
Lord approached Joshua, he was shaking in his boots too… And you know what!
Even before Joshua got to the angel, out of his anxiety for securing
his victory, he yells from afar…
"Are you for us, or for our adversaries?"
Joshua was wondering the same thing I had.
If we are all your
children Lord… then who’s team are you on?
Mine or theirs?
The angel replied…. “Neither.”
And there it was… it was so simple. In my humility, my question had been answered.
He is on neither.
I began to surrender to God my new revelation. Just as Joshua did that day, I too, fell on on my face and worshiped God, and cried out to him.... tell me servant of you Lord, where to take my position.
God doesn’t
pick what team he is on.
He is the team.
We are the ones who choose what team we are on.
In the midst of opposition as we stand for truth, we are often
discouraged and feel overwhelmed by our enemies. I am not sure God was telling Joshua that day... I am for your team nothing can stop you… I believe God was telling him…. Be
on my team Joshua, fight for truth with me.
Defend what I stand for, and love what I love. When you choose to be on
my team you will be strong and courageous, and your coach the Lord your God is
with you wherever you go. If we choose to follow his plan and be obedient in all that he asks, according to his word. Then as it says in Joshua 1:8 "Then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."
It was in that moment that I realized I had placed my
importance above God. I have no team. Team Amy… would have been eliminated the
moment I stepped onto the field. But I also realized that I had given to much
importance on my opposition as well.
They don’t have a team either.
There is one team.
We deceive ourselves when we formulate our own team for a
selfish victory. We will fail every time.
My prayers in the front line began to change.
Dear Lord,
Position me God on this battlefield, this is your team not mine. Let me
fight for truth and for your glory so that your plan will succeed. Just as you
have given me victory by being on your team, I ask that you speak to my
opposition. Allow them to know that there is one team. Remind them they have a role here on your team. Push them to join. Show them the position you would have
them play. Allow their hearts to be open to join you in this victory.
Amen.
My opposition had the same choice. To choose to be on
God’s team. Victory is guaranteed with Him. But sadly and too often we place,
like I did, too much importance on ourselves and in our plan that we think we
have a battle to win for ourselves.
As Joshua and his people crossed over a parted water to their adversaries land it says that the enemies melted in fear. It says they instantly lost the spirit of hope for
their fight. When we form selfish teams under our names we are setup for
failure. Our source of courage and spirit of victory is lost. But for Joshua
who chose to be on God’s team…. He was promised that the enemy would be handed
over to them.
Rahab is a perfect example of the choice that God gives to
us. She had every reason to follow the enemy and to choose to selfishly oppose God. She could have picked "her" team. Rahab knew that God had called her to a position on his team and guaranteed her victory through her obedience. God allows us to all be on his
team and to fight for his Glory. We can choose to fight against the plan of the
Lord or we can be for him.
Our courageous spirit and victory is a guarantee when we
choose to ask God where he would have us stand. Sometimes it will be on the
front line and other times he may have
us running out water bottles to others fighting and he even may say rest my strong
warrior. Whatever position he asks of us, we are his to use. We can surrender
ourselves to fight the good fight as his player or we can create and make our
own team knowing though that we immediately will feel the spirit of his
power leave us… it will be us and us alone. We will know only fear and all courage
will be lost.
I was reminded that there is no "Team Amy". To remember
that each battle is according to his plan, and what position he is asking me to
play. Our prayer for our adversary is to change their hearts like Rahab, so
that victory can be for all and for God's glory.
