Trust and Obey

While out shopping for Father’s day gifts, I made a purchase by credit card and a message popped up asking if I wanted cash back. I always say no when I see this message, but today something inside me said yes and I requested $20.00. 

Shortly afterwards, I noticed a couple in a parking lot standing by their vehicle with a sign that said “need food and gas to get back home.”  I felt compassion and thought I should pull into a drive through and buy some them some sandwiches. Then my skeptical mind started wondering if they were really stranded and desperate for help, or were they just taking advantage of people’s generosity so they could buy drugs or alcohol. (This was probably Satan tempting me with lies and distrust)

I pulled into a store instead and felt Jesus impress upon me to buy them some bottled water and lance crackers. I thought to myself, that’s good if they are traveling, this would be something needed for several hours. I also thought it would be better than giving money.  Then, the Lord told me to give them the $20.00 that I got from the credit card.

I saw several people stopping to give them money. I was still questioning whether I should do the same. I drove over and asked the young man for his story. He told me that their vehicle had broken down and they had to use their expense money for repairs and now they didn’t have enough money to get back home. I gave him the water, crackers and the $20.00. I told him that God would make sure they got home. I said God bless you and he said God bless you too. He then started getting ready to leave.

As I began to drive off, I spoke again and said. "if you are taking advantage of people, God will take care of that too." (Now why did I have to say something like that? Had to be Satan getting his last two cents in.) They looked grungy, but when I am traveling I don’t look my best either.  Jesus gently reminded me that it is not my place to judge but to obey. I felt such remorse and asked for forgiveness and grace.  

Even if the story wasn’t true, Jesus had asked me to give. As his follower, I was not to question what I was giving for, but just give. What I have and what I receive is not mine, but is provided by Him. It is by His grace that I have a job when so many are unemployed. Most likely, this couple was just tired, broke and desperate to get back home. Jesus had compassion upon them and was asking His children to help. God allowed me today to really see the meaning of “Trust and Obey.”

Later in the evening, my husband and son surprised me with an early birthday present and I learned that they purchased it just shortly after I had my encounter. When they got to the register, the item rang up $40.00 less than what they were expecting to pay.  The seed Jesus asked me to sow had been multiplied.

How many times do we miss out on blessing others and being blessed in return, because we let the enemy distract us with lies and distrust? Thank you, Lord, for teaching me this lesson. Help me to resist evil and always trust and obey.

Are you battle ready?

The medieval knight was the equivalent of the modern day tank. He was covered in multiple layers of armor, and could plow through foot soldiers standing in his way. No single foot soldier or archer could stand up to any one knight.

To become a knight, a boy would become a squire in service to a knight. His duties included taking care of knight’s armor and weapons, serving the knight and caring for his horse. A squire prepared himself by learning how to handle a sword and lance while wearing forty pounds of armor and riding a horse. When a young man had proven himself worthy, the Lord would agree to knight him in a dubbing ceremony.

The night before the ceremony, the young squire would dress in a white tunic with red robes. He would fast and pray all night for the purification of his soul. The chaplain would bless the future knight’s sword and then lay it on the altar. Before dawn, the knight took a bath to show that he was pure and he dressed in his best clothes. When dawn came, the priest would hear the young man’s confession. The squire would then eat breakfast and prepare for the ceremony.

During the dubbing ceremony, the squire would kneel before the Lord, who tapped the squire lightly on each shoulder with his sword and proclaimed him a knight. The young man would kneel as a squire who had been in training for years, but stand up as a knight, a warrior ready for battle in the Kings army.

As a Christian, we learn that we are forgiven of our sins, have eternal life and will go to heaven . Yet we continue to live in our bodies here on earth and face the temptations to sin again.  Everyday we must confess our sins, renew our minds and battle the fiery darts of the enemy against us and our family, against our health and our finances. No wonder Christians become battle worn and fatigued. It’s exhausting to even think about it. 

So how can we live a Christian life victoriously and not feel defeated. Paul taught us in Ephesians 6, that a Christian must become like a knight wearing our own armor. Like the squire, we must first become dressed in white with the red robes of Jesus’s blood washing us clean from sin. This happens at the moment of salvation. After salvation, we must walk as Christ walked following Him, just as the squire followed and served his knight.

Just as the squire, learned to handle his sword, we must train with ours.  Our sword is the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. Studying and knowing God’s word, having it planted in our hearts and minds, ready to bring it forth when needed. We must read the bible; follow His commandments, pray and fast regularly, seeking the will of the Father in our lives. 

Just as the squire knelt before his lord, we must kneel and humble ourselves before our Lord daily. Finally, we must be strong in the Lord and in His might, dressing ourselves in our armor, girded with truth and grace, wearing the breastplate of righteousness, walking in the gospel of peace, shielding ourselves with faith and covered with the helmet of salvation. Then we must rise, taking up the blessed sword, ready for battle in our King’s army. 

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Are you battle ready?