Having Done All Stand: Choosing Courage Under Threat
One of the things you can never truly know about yourself is how you’re going to react to life’s extreme struggles, trials, and difficult circumstances – until you’re faced with them. While many unexpected things happen in life, how you respond to the external forces of life is very telling of the internal forces at work inside of you.
The only way to prepare ahead of time for the tough seasons in your faith and in your life is from the inside.
Paul wrote:
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13)
You know the expression: “Fight, flight or freeze”? God’s Word says “Having done all stand“, so there needs to be another response option for the believer: FAITH!
If you have done everything else and have come to the end of your resources where there’s nothing left that you can do – there is only one thing you can do: Stand and refused to be moved. But how do you do that when you have nothing left to give to the battle?
Having Done All, Stand: Choosing Where to Put Your Feet
When you have nothing left to give in the natural because of what you’re walking through, the most powerful way to stand is to fall down before the Lord and worship Him. That’s what Job did, and it is how he survived the worst darkness the world could produce.
- Psalm 22: 3 says, “…You inhabit the praises of your people.”
- Psalm 16:11 says, “… in Your presence is fullness of joy.”
- Nehemiah 8:10 says, “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
The true source of the strength you need is found in the presence of God, so of course the enemy would want to attack you to keep you so weakened that all your energy and focus is on natural things and never on spiritual things.
Everyone walks through pain and troubles in life, but not everyone has the same response. Some rage and scream. Some cower. Some tremble. Some hide. Some fight. Some flee. Some freeze in fear.
The true source of the strength you need is found in the presence of God.
~ Alicia Purdy ~
For most people, the reaction to anxiety, fear, shock, stress, trauma and difficulties depends on what is going on inside and outside of you when the darkness comes.
If you are a worshipper who lives a lifestyle of praise, your spiritual instincts will be developed enough that turning your face to the Lord is your natural response in hard time. You can’t know when the hard times will come, but you can have your weapons ready for when it does.
Having Done All, Stand: Fighting from Your Knees
You are not weaponless in your battles, and you are not alone. But if you’re going to emerge victorious, you’ll need to become a skilled warrior and a master at using the weapons God has given you.
Just like you wouldn’t step into a war zone without as much training as possible on how to use your weapons, how to keep your wits about you and how to respond to attacks, you shouldn’t think you’ll be any more successful at stepping into life without proper, spiritual training.
Then, in the day of adversity, when you have a choice to make- fight, flight, freeze or FAITH– you might feel vulnerable, but having done all stand!
You’ll have the seasoned faith experience, the foundation of the Word, the power of praise and an unflinching gaze on the Lord so you can take a stand against the enemy and will find yourself unmovable against the tide!
Your faith must be ready to fight at all times because Jesus assured us that in the world, tribulation and trials would come. (John 16:33)
In Psalm 94:17-19 the Psalmist wrote:
“Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul would have lived in the land of silent death. When I said, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, held me up. When there is a multitude of worries within me, Your comforts delight my soul.”
Some people wait until all their strength is gone to fall down before the Lord and cry out. But as you grow in the Lord, FALL DOWN FIRST! The secret to standing in faith isn’t to actually- it’s to fall.
STAND, THEREFORE!
The Bible is clear that the Lord upholds the righteous (Isaiah 41:10) and that those who are in Him cannot be moved.
- Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be moved.”
- In Psalm 62:5-6 David said, “My soul, wait silently for God, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my refuge; I will not be moved.”
- Psalm 112:6-7 says, “Surely the righteous man shall not be moved; the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.”
That doesn’t mean your enemy won’t TRY to move you. Of course he will! The enemy will push you as far as he thinks he can. It is unScriptural to think that God would never give you more than you can bear. The Bible doesn’t say that anywhere, but even if it did… SATAN NEVER MADE YOU THAT PROMISE.
Satan will go for the weak, the lame, the sick and the young first, but he’s just as willing to go after the strong as well and, just like any skilled hunter, he has been stalking you and watching your life and he knows where and when to strike you in the places you are the most vulnerable.
Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.
Worship is your training. Worship hones your spiritual instincts to react how God needs you to react in battle. The supernatural power of praise creates a dynamic of protection, strength, joy, peace, and more that only God can provide.
God’s Word is your battle strategy. The Word of God is alive, active, and filled with supernatural power. (Hebrews 4:12) If a battle comes upon you suddenly, you won’t have time to run home and grab your weapons. You must have God’s Word in your heart and mind so you are ready for the enemy’s attacks!
- Psalm 119:92 says, “Unless Your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.”
- Psalm 119:105 says, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
- Psalm 119:11 says, “Your Word have I hidden in my heart so I don’t sin against you.”
- Psalm 119:50 says, “This is my comfort in my affliction: Your Word will revive me.”
Prayer keeps you prepared for problems. How? When you pray, you are stepping into a spiritual realm and creating a point of contact on earth for the Lord to flow through in your situations. This is what Jesus said when He prayed, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
A lifestyle of worship based on God’s Word and empowered by prayer is what you’re going to fall back on when it’s time to retreat, or regroup, or take refuge under the shadow of His wing – or having done all STAND.
Thought for today: Having Done All Stand …Fall, Sing, Kneel, Shout, Praise!
The enemy has taken enough territory! It is time to take it back. In every battle you face, you have a choice to make- whether to run away, fight in the natural, freeze in terror or stand in faith. Your spiritual instinct will be directly proportional to your spiritual preparedness.
That is not a point of condemnation, but encouragement! If you are overwhelmed, the strongest thing you can do is remain in the presence of the Lord, give Him control, and allow Him to be your strength instead of trying to be strong.
You “set your love” upon the Lord in worship – and His Word promises that He will honor that. Praise and worship are how you stay connected to the Spirit of the Lord – your true source of strength, help, wisdom, peace, joy, guidance, and comfort.
Learn more about the 7 Hebrew Words for Praise and how each one helps create strength, intimacy, and fresh revelation as you understand more about God’s plan for praise in your life!
His Spirit will give you everything you need – even words about what the future holds, if the Holy Spirit needs you to know that (John 16:13).
Your mission is to stay connected to Him and fight for that connection every day, every moment, if need be- and don’t let anything break it. Get into the presence of God through worship now, before the battle begins. Worship is the winning strategy and it will keep you on your feet.
Fight. Flight. Freeze or… Faith? You’ll be strong enough to stand, therefore, in faith if you discipline yourself now to win!
