For some reason I have been drawn to the life story of Winston Churchill lately. I am starting 2 books about him and saved one documentary I am excited to watch. Churchill was one of the world’s greatest leaders. He was a brilliant war strategist who studied his enemy and how to beat him. He was also an inspirational speaker who galvanized a sleeping nation and in one case a group of students.

At the end of a long speech to a graduating class of his alma-mater  he said, ‘Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.’

I needed to hear that right now. In our lives I think we are so used to instantaneous results that something that may take great perseverance can appear so overwhelming that we give up before we begin. But sometimes the greatest victories are a long time coming and require study, creating a strategy, executing that strategy and continuing on with it regardless of the length of time it takes. Some things are worth the work and the wait.

Galatians 6:9

‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

As I asked the Lord how to pray about a particular challenge I sensed that He was giving me the beginning of a battle plan and I was headed back to the war room.

John 14:1

Amplified Bible (AMP)

14 Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me.

12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.

13 And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son.

I love that Jesus first addresses our heart issues. He knows that fear and uncertainty and sadness can unravel us. We get agitated and distressed so easily. So He brings us right back to trust. Trusting in His unending care for us and those we love. Trusting in His character. 

Jesus said in John 15:7, “

“7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.”

If we are committed to study the word, store it in our heart, stay really close and listen as to what we are to ask for, He will provide a way. While doing that we rest in God’s incredible love for us and for those we love. Then we ask for the strategy for the unseen battle knowing He is faithful to lead us.

However, we are but human, and as mere mortals at the moment, we need to be encouraged. That means to take courage where fear might dominate.  I do that as I review how God has worked in the lives lived before mine, the powerful testimonies of others. If you are at a point in your life where things just don’t make sense in the natural and fear and confusing thoughts threaten your peace take encouragement from the life of Elijah.

Set up: Elijah defeats the prophets of Baal, He is the threatened by Jezebel and flees into the Wildnerness. God begins to speak to him… but He is not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire… but in the still small voice.

1 Kings 19:12-18

12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

15 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. 17 It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Elijah is in a point of confusion, a point of discouragement and despair over current circumstances. He is feeling sorry for himself, alone, and without a lot of hope.

God appears to him in the quiet still whisper and beckons Elijah to Himself and He asks Him – What are you doing here? He lets him pour out his confusion and His frustration, but then He gives Elijah clear direction and helps Him to see the bigger picture.

When I see with my natural eyes around me, I can feel small, insignificant, powerless, intimidated by the circumstances around me… I might even fall into self pity like Elijah.  But I have a God who is whispering to me to draw near to Him in those moments. To get quiet before Him and tune my ears into to hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit who is in me, ready and able to direct my next steps and help me to see the bigger picture.

He is our Place of Refuge:

Pour out your heart to Him, our God is a refuge. No matter how long we have walked with God, matured, we need our refuge. We need a place to pour out our heart and how amazing is it that God beckons us to come to Him and to do that.

He is our Clarity:

When we draw near to Him, in prayer in the word our circumstances become clearer, understanding comes. What was hidden from our sight becomes clear. Like twisting the lens of a camera to bring something into focus. With Him we begin to things we couldn’t see before.

Psalm 36:9 “For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.”

He has the Next Steps Ready for You:

He knows the end from the beginning, He knows where you are and already sees exactly where you should be going. When we can quiet our hearts before Him and lean in to Him to listen the Holy Spirit will reveal those steps we need to take.

Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
 And He delights in his way.”

Now we engage in prayer and confession

Once we know how to pray we know the prayer of the righteous avails much. We know the throne room is open and God hears us. We know all the promises of God are Yes and Amen. Ask for the promises you are to stand on and then “Stand Therefore”!

So take your stand but also be on your knees. You may, like Churchill look a bit like a bulldog….