Shields of a Thousand Warriors

"Your neck is like the tower of David,
    built with courses of stone;
on it hang a thousand shields,
    all of them shields of warriors."

                          -Song of Solomon 4:4
When I first heard this verse last year, it inspired me. I thought I was invincible. I believed that I could stand against anything that came against me, and that nothing could touch me that hadn't first passed through the hands of Christ. I loved the thought of being protected, and being untouchable, when it came to the attacks of the Enemy.

Now, I feel anything but invincible. I've seen the attacks, and I've seen the way I give into them again, and again, and again. I wonder where the shields are, that were meant to defend me. I wonder why I still don't know how to wield them in my life.

We can all try to be invincible. For awhile, we might rest in Him, and fight the attacks in His unfailing strength. But slowly, we become subtly convinced that that strength is somehow our own, and that we can stand in our abilities. We would never admit to it. Growing up in Christian homes and going to church every week, it's easy to convince ourselves that we're living the Christian life as it was meant to be lived. That our lives don't belong to ourselves; that the only thing we live for is Jesus Himself.

But I would challenge you to look deeper into your life. What words or images consume your thought life?  What activities take up the bulk of your time?  What is the first thing you turn to, when you need help or comfort?  How do you spend your free time?  What things give you the most peace, or relief, from the chaos that life can so easily become?

And we wonder why we can't fight off the attacks.

So often, we feel helpless in the face of attacks, whether it's depression, insecurity, anxiety, or whatever else it might be. I heard a video sermon recently by Paul Washer, and one line really stood out to me. He said that, when it comes to fighting off attacks, "Your problem isn't that you're too weak; it's that you're too strong."

In our own strength, we are too weak to fight off that which would come against us. But in our own pride and self-sufficiency, we are too strong to admit that we can't do it on our own.

The place of victory is not in what we can bring to the table. It's not the ability to keep our heads up, or convince ourselves that we're good enough. The place of victory is the cross of Jesus Christ, where He would willingly pour out His everything, physically and spiritually, to rescue those so broken that they could not even acknowledge their need for Him. The Enemy had the upper hand, and humanity gave it to him. But He gave up His life not only to forgive us, but to free us. To give us His own strength to fight, with the promise that, no matter what the circumstances, He would go before us to give us the victory.

The secret to victory is as simple as it is beautiful, given by Jesus Himself in John 15:
"Remain in my love."

The One who has defeated death stands with you now, and longs to reveal Himself to you. In Him, we have the shields of a thousand warriors.

~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~ 

Worship Song: 

"Strong Tower",
by Kutless

Lily Among Thorns

She

"I am a rose of Sharon,
    a lily of the valleys.

He

2 Like a lily among thorns
    is my darling among the young women."

-Song of Songs 2:1-2

Almost two years ago, God awakened me to the vision of a lifestyle completely set apart for Him. The thought of that selfless existence drew me in, and I tried to chase it. I was inspired by the stories of women from the past, and in the present, who had walked the narrow path and emerged victorious. Elisabeth Elliot, who went back to Ecuador to serve and love the people who had killed her husband. Gladys Aylward, who followed no matter the danger, and brought light to the darkest places. Amy Carmichael, who rescued children and poured out her life to see God's justice come to earth. These women were truly lilies of the valley; their stories and trust in Him were beautiful beyond imagination.

I wanted to follow. I had caught the vision. But I wasn't anticipating the thorns. I knew they were coming; I was expecting the difficulties to come from the world, and the pressure to give in to a mediocre lifestyle. I wasn't expecting what happened.

The thorns came. They're here. But they weren't from outside. The thorns I face, that try to choke the life out of my spiritual journey, come from within. My flesh, telling me sleep is more important than late nights of wrestling prayer. My pride, whispering that a servant's heart is unnecessary. My selfishness, convincing me that love is something that has to be deserved.

And we've all given into the thorns, on some level. The subtle lies of the Enemy, that tell us that we are our own chief concern, and everything else is secondary, seem so right, and we are easily led astray. Looking back is painful. The way I failed to fight. The way I failed to serve. The way I failed to love. Left with only the ashes of what was once a burning passion to follow Him, no matter what.

Alone, we are ashes, crushed under the thorns.

But we aren't called to fight on our own. It doesn't matter how many times it's been repeated; the truth remains that God is with you, and fights for you. His banner over you is love; there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. You are not defined by your yesterday. I've heard that phrase so many times, and I used to repeat it, to remind myself that I wasn't the person I was three years ago. I forget how literal it can and should be; I'm not defined by last year's mistakes, but I'm not even defined by Saturday May 16th's mistakes. I'm not defined by the person I was, or even the person I am. My identity is not in who I am, but in whose I am. In ourselves, we are nothing, but in Him, there is freedom and life and the strength to love and be loved.

Through Him, I am more than what these ashes say. They are fleeting, but He is eternal. In Christ, we are a new creation, freed from yesterday, freed from the power of our thorns over us.

I love the words of Isaiah 43:

"When you pass through the waters,

    I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

    they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

    you will not be burned;

    the flames will not set you ablaze."

-Isaiah 43:2

This is an incredible promise; through Him, we are untouched by the attacks that would come against us. But He never promised that the attacks wouldn't come. Although they will not sweep over you, the rivers will still rise around you; although the flames will not burn you, they will still emerge in your midst. His promise was not an easy life; His promise was of victory.

The thorns will still be there. On this side of the cross, sin still exists. But through Jesus, it has no power over us.

But in Him, we are a lily among thorns, not under them.

~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~ 

Worship Song: 

"More Than Ashes"
by Tim Reinherr

The Rose

"I am a rose of sharon."
                -Song of Solomon 2:1a

Roses are beautiful; they're one of the most common symbols of affection in our culture, and it's not difficult to see why. This image, given early on in one of the Bible's most famous love letters, is an incredible picture of God's love for His church.

Roses have a unique shape. While the petals of some flowers open fully to expose their centers, rose petals create a form around the center. You can't actually see the top of the stem, without removing the petals. It's as though they have a hidden person inside. Something the outside world can't touch. Something beautiful within, that only their Maker knows. The concept is reflected in Revelation 19:

"11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. 

He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself."

-Revelation 19:11-12

Eric Ludy, in his book Wrestling Prayer, points out the incredible intimacy that this reflects. He writes:

"His Father has given Him a name that is so intimate, so beautiful, so precious that we as men are not yet able to know it. 

We know that His name is the Word of God. We know that He is called Faithful and True. And even later in this scriptural sequence, we also know that on His thigh is inscribed the name 

King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

However, there is a name that we don't yet know...

It is the name given Him in the secret place of fellowship with His Father." 

The love and communion between the Father and the Son is beyond what we can wrap our minds around. But the most unbelievable part, is what Jesus Himself says in a letter to the churches:

"17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it."

-Revelation 2:17

He desires that same sacred intimacy with us. He longs for us to come away, and give the inner person of our hearts to Him.

But it's not because He needs it. Another feature of roses is their fleeting lifespan. They flourish for a few days, or maybe even a week, but then they die. We, as people, can survive without them. We are complete without them. How much more is God's ability to survive without us?  We have only a fleeting breath; we were formed from dust, and to dust we will return. In return for His love, we have rebelled and sinned against Him. He was complete without us, and had every right to reject us when we fell.... but He never did.

He took that brokenness, and created something precious. He took that dust, and made it something beautiful.

Roses are also dependent. Their buds can't form on their own. They have to grow on stems, in bushes, and on vines. When cut off, they can only live for so long. But when they are on the vine, they can flourish. They can become truly beautiful. They can grow into the creation they were designed to be. I love the way Jesus uses this imagery in John 15:

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love."

-John 15:5-9

Throughout the Bible, God is portrayed more than once as a gardener. He tends to His roses, and does not abandon them to the storms of life. He walks with them, cares for them, and loves them.
He will not forsake us.

~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~ 

Worship Song: 

"Beloved"
by Tenth Avenue North