As you look back over the last year, what has the Lord been showing you and teaching you? What areas has He provided opportunities for you to practice what you are learning? For me, it has been a deeper understanding of spiritual warfare. If I could pick learning opportunities or challenges to go through, I wouldn’t have picked this. Maybe that’s why I entered this season so ill prepared. Oh, I knew the basic stuff… Ephesians 6 mostly by heart, my position in Christ, praying against spiritual warfare in general and occasionally fasting. But I tried to avoid the realities of enemy presence in my world because I couldn’t control that. That was too big and too scary. 

And then the Lord allowed me to have a front row seat and the option to engage or not was no longer there. My ignorance was not bliss and I had a lot to learn. But God was so kind to lead me to the people and places where I could start to learn, grow in my understanding, and battle for the people I love. I have come a long way in 7 months! God has been so faithful! You know how it’s far easier to learn a foreign language when you are in the country, surrounded by opportunities to practice. Well that’s how it has been for me in this, I’ve been surrounded with opportunities to practice and fight the spiritual battle. I’ve seen miracles and my faith has grown! I have also experienced really difficult moments where I don’t understand. Moments when I am in the midst and I cry out to God, “what do You want me to see and know in this moment? Lead me forward, show me how to battle here!” And sometimes it hasn’t gone well. So here I am in the midst of another battle and I don’t understand it all. I don’t know what to do this afternoon when I am confronted again except to keep praying, claiming the Lord’s promises and watching for God’s leading. This morning, the Lord reminded me of the verse that’s so well-known, but let’s not cast it aside because of all the coffee mugs it is on… 

“Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart. Lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) 

He will do it. He will show the way. I don’t have all the answers and I’m not in control but what a good place to be so that my faith and reliance on God can be even more rooted in Him. He has won the war and He will be with me in this battle. I can trust Him. So then, “just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7)