Surrendering... (written Friday, July 17)

-my need to understand, to make sense of what I see.
Why am I here (in Kenya), what value can there be in it.
Is it a secret, silent happening? Is something being done outside my range of vision? Please God, may it be worthwhile, pleasing to you.

Several years back, when my Maggie couldn’t see clearly things at a distance, we took her to the eye doctor and she received glasses that when put on her sweet face made things in the distance visibly clear. She exclaimed, “I never realized that it was possible to actually see the millions of individual leaves on the trees in the distance”. She had only been able to see the glob of green in the hazy distance.
Isn’t it true for us as well? Even with our best efforts, even while we look with intent and even a longing to understand, the reality of what is before us can usually only appear as a curious sort of glob. Unclear to us as we gaze at it with what we think are clear eyes.

If we ask God, will he fit us with a pair of glasses that will allow us to see the reality of what is undoubtedly around us. How would we live differently if we could “see” the impact in the spiritual realm brought about by our actions, our thoughts, our choices, our reactions? It’s the realm where the angels minister and where they do battle. They are able to see our world as well as the one that is hidden from us. They are given access to see what we can not. They see the times we miss seeing Christ among us. They intervene and give comfort to the broken, suffering, wounded one as they also engage in battle with the evil that seeks to consume that same soul. And how often do they wonder, “Why didn’t she speak truth, why didn’t she pour out love and truth, mercy and light???” She holds the Word in her hands and recites the words with her mouth in church, during her quiet times, when she’s comfortable to do so. But oh how we long for her to pour out those same anointed words of power into the wounded lives brought before her; in the moments when it’s not comfortable.
Can you see, in your mind’s eye, the angel who is prepared to do battle in your stead? He stands guard, powerfully. His mighty hand rests on the hilt of his sword. He is poised and prepared and wondering. Must I draw my sword or will she use the sword she possesses – the sword of the Word of God. Do you ever wonder if the angels smile when in a moment we do speak words of life into the lives of those around us. Words that cause the demons of hell to shreak and run. Christ’s blood was given for more than our salvation. There is POWER in His precious shed blood. Lord help me to put to good use each and every drop of your gift.
You do not let us see this hidden realm, for I sense we are far to weak. And you did not design us to engage in that world. You designed us to be effective in the world where we are. Help us to remember though that to have the impact you have equipped us to have, we can and should use your Words of life to speak against the evil one when he is tormenting in this realm.
No glasses can be worn to see what you protect us from seeing. But oh Lord you do give us WORDS of LIFE which will bless and change the world we can see as well as do battle in the realm we cannot.