Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
Most of you will remember that previously I’ve shared about a vision I had where I am in a fire. My first posture in that fire, was crouched on the ground in a prayer position. Then in a shift, God moved me to my feet where I was walking through the fire and feeling myself getting stronger while doing so. Now, I see myself running confidently through this same fire. When I see myself running, I am steady and not running out of fear. Rather, I find myself running with purpose.
In the same way a shift has happened in my earthly person. I find myself engaging in things that I previously felt no leading to be involved in, but something has shifted, and God is taking me out of my comfort zone yet again. As I am walking into these new places, I can feel the flames whipping around me and I feel the fear of man burning off me. I feel the critical thoughts I have toward myself burning off.
As one thing after another is burned off, I feel a certainty in God that I’ve never known before. I see His delight over me constantly. I see His power revealed. I see His higher works happening as we watch earthly things seemingly become unraveled. My God is steady and certain. He is not confused. When I look into His eyes, I see a calm that is so sovereign. As the earth seems more and more confused and uncertain, I feel a solid and unbreakable certainty and steadiness that has taken root in my very soul. I am feeling the unshakeable God.
My steady Peace, He walks me through the valley of the shadow of death. I fear nothing when He is beside me. I don’t fear getting out of alignment with Him because His rod and staff are there to make sure I don’t wander off. If I take a wrong course, I trust Him to pull me back.
I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m going to mention it again…we WALK through the valley. We do not set up camp, build a house or send out address cards. No. The valley is temporary. We move through it. Never stopping, just moving forward.
Friends, we are in the middle of a war. As a daughter of the Most High I will stand as near Him as possible. From there I can trust that I am in the right place at the right time in every circumstance.
Imagine yourself on a battlefield. Then ask yourself, “In what position will I feel safest and have the most covering?” I think you know the answer to this question. As close to the Father as possible. The closer we are to Him during battle the easier it is to know what He will do next or what He wants us to do next. It’s not complicated, but it does take a lot on intentional behavior.
Prayer Moment: God, teach me how to remain ever closer to You during my walk through this valley. Almost all of life feels like a valley right now, and God You are the only way through. Give me eyes to see the parting of the clouds in the distance so that I don’t forget this is temporary. Hold me close. Hide me in Your shadow. Embolden me. Give me courage. Remove all the splinters of fear from my heart. God, I don’t want to be a coward. Lead me into bravery. Lead me to be the warrior You created me to be. The warrior I feel beating in my heart. Let it come out more and more. Cultivate the gentle warrior in me. Gentle fierceness, that’s what I’m created to walk in, and I feel it. I feel it coursing through my veins with each heartbeat. Gentle fierceness that tears down demonic kingdoms and strongholds with one song of worship. That’s me, when I’m surrendered to You. I surrender now Lord, strengthen my song.
365 Days in the Presence 