Flight or Fight

Are you feeling overwhelmed in these difficult times? Loneliness, financial lack and fear are very stressful. There have been times in my life when I have felt as if a tidal wave has slammed into me, as in this scripture, where it describes the enemy coming in like a flood.  Let’s look at this scripture more closely.
 
Very importantly, it identifies the cause of my difficulties, which is the enemy. So the first thing that I have to recognise is that it is not people whom I should be fighting but it is the enemy of my soul. I do not need to feel angry or frustrated about circumstances, but I need to face my real enemy.
 
Now there are two well-known responses when we feel under attack.  We can either respond with fight or flight. If I am honest, often my first reaction is one of flight. I don’t want to face up to what’s happening and to cope with it. Instead I want to climb back into bed and pull the covers over my head. However, this scripture shows us how to fight this battle.
 
Firstly, I need to call upon the Spirit of the Lord and ask Him to lift up a standard against the enemy. In Bible times, a standard was like a banner that the armies held high at the front when they were marching into war. It declared who they were, and for whom they were fighting. It also served as a declaration that they were taking up the challenge. Likewise, we need to stand, holding up that banner or declaration that we belong to the lord and that He is fighting with us.
 
Then it says that the Spirit will come like a rushing stream that the breath of the Lord drives. This reminds me of when God split the waters of the Red Sea for the Egyptians to pass through. And that is what God does for us when we declare the scripture and hold it up like a banner. Somehow, supernaturally, the sense of being overwhelmed is driven away and we find ourselves at peace.
 
I encourage you to use this weapon of God’s word when you feel overwhelmed in a situation. God says that His word is the Sword of the Spirit and it works!

Prayer: Father God, we thank You that You have a whole army of angelic warriors to fight this battle with and for us. We thank You for Your Word which is a weapon that achieves Your purposes. We call upon your Spirit to enable us to stand as warriors in Your Kingdom, knowing that You have guaranteed us the victory. Amen.