I lift my eyes up…
We are coming up on 21 days of the new war within a war, and in times like it is inevitable that “your lowest level of training” is exposed. The military understands that in times of crisis you resort to your lowest level of training and this is why training is held in high regard, facilitated to meet the high demand, and overseen with high expectations. It is easy to understand this very practical concept, and people who were never in the military can see the value and necessity as well. There is another dynamic to this training that comes from the individual’s perspective that is being trained. You can do one of two things typically; you can sink into the average and not have to try too hard or you allow yourself to be vulnerable in your failure so that you can grow in expediency, accuracy, and repeatability because you have trained an adapted response to the external stimuli through exposure.
Exposure. You cannot learn, respond, or understand something you have never been exposed to. We are like film; we save these moments and images in our mind and heart as we are exposed to them. These memories become the building blocks of how we respond and the only thing that trumps how we respond in logic or emotions comes from our heart not our mind (yes emotions come from your mind). I was telling Izzy when all this started that she must think about what alarm she is hearing to know what she needs to do; get ready OR get to safety. I told her, “Your brain does not care about your body. It is selfish and thinks only about itself, it does not care if part of your body does not make it as long as it lives.” I was explaining that the speed it wants to go is a lot of times faster than your ability to operate. Being able to think, slow down, make conscious decisions, and then move is what will get you to safety, safely.
Spiritually, we must do the same thing. We have all these external stimuli trying to change our thought pattern to react in a natural way to unnatural things. But we must stop, remember, change our perspective, and continue in Truth. We must stop our brains from sitting on these intrusive thoughts, remember the work that the Lord has done in our lives, and continue to walk in the spirit. This reminds me of Psalm 121 (which was presumably written just 30 or so yards from where I am sitting in my kitchen right now) “I lift my eyes up to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” The imagery I see in this is one of being in a valley, looking up to the mountains in as much despair as I can imagine and knowing; I must look higher still. All of these natural low and high places have nothing to do with my victory. The Lord, who created it all “will protect you from all evil, he will keep your soul and will protect your coming and going from now until forever” if we keep our perspective on Him not leaning on worldly knowledge and expectations of outcomes. I daily, for the last 21 days, multiple times a day, have had to stop, take my thoughts captive, raise my eyes, and be thankful for who and where my help comes from.
Times of crisis, brings out where everyone is struggling and we are here to help those who are struggling. God has been so gracious to not only give us the ministry of reconciliation so that others make walk in freedom, but in reconciling our lives, hearts, emotions, and expectations so that we can walk in freedom too. It is a humbling experience to get to look up into heaven and see that the Lord is guiding you, protecting you, and loving you and your family through everything. That is true Peace. It occurs in the midst of circumstances, without compromise, and astonishes those around you that have not experienced it yet. It astonishes me at times when I see it on my daughters in the middle of the night, when they are tired and just want to roll over and go back to sleep but for three hours straight are up and down, back and forth to the shelter (like last night). They don’t complain or have an attitude. They move calmly, have such an interesting smile on their face sometimes, and always love on those in the shelter with us.
So, I want to encourage you. In the middle of circumstances in the valleys where the greatest temptation is to compromise on the fruit that you produce on the mountain tops, pick your eyes up above what you can see in the natural and remember where your help comes from. It comes from the creator of heaven and earth, He will not let your foot slip, He does not slumber or sleep, He will protect you from all evil, He keeps your soul, and He guards you in your going out and in your coming in. FROM THIS TIME FORTH AND FOREVER.
We are truly thankful for you and your prayers for us. This is what helps us keep our eyes above the natural things going on around us and to walk as victors and be thankful in all things.
We love you,
Jake, Steph, Izzy, Maddy.
