A Battle Cry of Encouragement

There's a city with war-torn walls, and the enemy draws near. The defenses have crumbled to rubble piles that tiny creatures scurry beneath, and the fresh wind that quivers the rough homes traverse the same path that foreign armies can march. The war is almost upon them.

So they grab swords in one hand, tools in the other, and they begin at their homes.

The people work.

They raise a wall, ready to fight or build, because this city is the Lord's, and the work will be completed.

Recently, our church family studied the story of Nehemiah.

It's an account of Israel--a people chosen by God who rejected Him and were thus sentenced to exile and their homes fell apart to rubble. Years later, a remnant returned to find Jerusalem in shambles and enemies darting in with angry threats.

But God had a plan.

And His people put their trust in Him and got to work with swords and tools. They began at their homes and made sure that in the place God set before them, a wall was built. They worked in a battlefield.

Live your lives in union with Me, and I will live My life in union with you.

 

And it reminds me of a favorite scene from my soon-to-be-released fantasy novel, The Way of the King.

As tension rises, Kadira finds herself surrounded by enemies, and one of her closest friends chooses to defect to the opposing side. Broken, she finds maybe her last friend--a man wounded and imprisoned in the same enemy's prison cell.

Kadira's hurting. Alone. Afraid.

She loves her King and would lay down her life for him, but the weight is so much.

And in the darkness of prison cells where the treacherous Prince's green fire burns like an emerald snake, she meets her friend in similar dire circumstances, and the words of encouragement could make me cry.

I AM the vine, and you are the branches. If someone is living his life in union with Me, and I in union with him, he will produce much fruit; for apart from Me you can accomplish nothing.

Kadira and her friend stand, metal bars separating them, but they know the King is worth it, and He will win. So they stand strong.

And before she leaves, he whispers to her,

keep running.

Because yes, it's a race and she's tired and exhausted and ready to give up and fall, but no. Keep running.

And I think the people during Nehemiah's time had a similar call ringing in their ears: keep going. keep building. keep working. This is for our God, and He will provide, protect; He will win.

Today, I needed that too. Maybe you do as well.

Because life can be hard. Races aren't easy strolls through "Sound of Music" hills. The ground might be rocky, your knees may be bruised or bleeding, or maybe you're completely out of breath.

Friend, keep running.

Maybe there's city walls falling all around you, and the only defense is that little pile of stones in front of your home. But God can use that wall, and He can defeat the enemy. So let's move to the next house and help them build too.

Or go to the runner who has fallen, take his hand, and help him keep going.

Here's where it starts:

If you are living in union with Me, and My words are dwelling inside of you, you may ask for whatever it is that is on your hearts, and it will be done for you.

 

It starts with me and Jesus.

You and Jesus.

Knowing He is worthy and that if He has called you to this moment, He also has given you everything you need for it (2 Peter 1:3).

He is a loving, tender God of rest and grace, and He will supply all you need.

To fight, we abide. Remain. Live in union with Him.

Like Nehemiah building the wall and Kadira and her friend fighting onward for their King. And I can't tell you the end of The Way of the King (as that would give away way too many spoilers!), but Nehemiah's story is already published. ;)  And part of the ending is an entire parade of musicians traversing the finished wall and ending up at the House of the Lord where they filled the city with song and yelled their praises so loud that they could be heard from afar off.

That's what I call victory!

So I encourage you: keep running. keep building.

Pursuing Jesus has changed my life forever, and He can do the same for you, Friend! ♥

((verse snippets from John 15))

The same kind of love that the Father has shown me, I, likewise, have shown you. You must continue in My love...

You will continue in My love if you obey the commandments you have received from Me...

~♥~