The Key to Victory

Wow, I feel like I just had a huge epiphany today.

Epiphany = a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiate by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience (thanks to dictionary.com).

There’s three parts to this. It’s an analogy for what my spiritual state has been this past year. I’ll start with where I was last semester, go on to where I’ve been this semester, and finally to the epiphany of some words the Lord gave to me a year ago.

Last semester was extremely hard for me! It still really feels weird saying this, because I am and always have been just a naturally really happy person, but if ever I were to come close to depression, it was last semester. Please know that from the beginning I never doubted God. Rather, I grew to love Him and depend on Him more than ever in this time. Nevertheless, there would be nights that I just wouldn’t be able to sleep. I’d call my mom (my beloved mom) in the wee hours of the morning and she would just pray, pray, and pray for me over the phone until I was at peace enough to finally get some sleep.

Exodus 17:8-15, one of my favorite Bible passages, tells the story of when Joshua fought the Amalekites. Amalek is always a symbol of the flesh. Vs 16 talks about this perpetual battle that men will face from “generation to generation.” People will always have to fight the flesh. I was fighting the flesh. Fighting sadness. Fighting attacks at all angles from the enemy. “We fight not against flesh and blood.” While Joshua was down, fighting in the ‘Valley of Interaction,’ Moses, Aaron, and Hur were up on the ‘Mountain of Intercession.” Whenever Moses would hold up the Rod of the Lord above his head, with the help of Aaron and Hur, Joshua would be winning the battle against the Amalekites. So it was with my mom and me. She was my Moses, Aaron, and Hur, praying for me, interceding on behalf of me, helping me defeat the Amalekites. The battle was won by prayer, not by Joshua or his sword (… i.e. not only by the Word of God, as the sword is referred to).

1 Timothy 2:8 says to lift up holy hands in prayer =). Luke 18 says to always pray and not to faint or loose heart. Faith changes things. Prayer changes you and me! This transformation that takes place is more important than the outcome of a situation.

Who else stood on a mountain top on behalf of me? Who ever lives to intercede for me? Haha, no, not my mom here, but my Creator and Heavenly Father!

Also, during this time the Lord had someone share Psalm 91 with me. Verse one says, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Here, the Most High, which is “El Elione,” emphasizes God’s majesty, and the Almighty, which is “El Shaddai,” implies the tender care, such as that of a nursing mother. But when the two terms are used together, they speak of God as a mountain-like majesty, in whose presence there is a “secret place” or a shadow (with help from my Bible commentary and previous marginal scribbling). Okay, there are a million verses that declare the security we have under the shadow of His wings! The secret… the ONLY place it’s possible to be in the shadow of the mountain is when your in the valley!

Now I’m in a new season. Literally, since the first of the year, the Lord has been taking me out of that low valley of depression and sadness. By no means am I at the top of the mountain yet; However, I have a hope and anticipation for when I get to the top of what an amazing sight I will see ahead of me! It’s also not at all easy. Have you ever climbed a mountain? It’s hard! But it’s a good hard and I know I can only come out stronger in the end. I’m still in the shadow… climbing up!

The epiphany! I read my first blog, from May 10^th, 2010. Haha =) In that blog I used the analogy of entering the head of a trail and how “there is going to be bumpy dirt, border-trail shrubs,” etc, but “At the end comes victory… and always a little more strength and confidence.” No joke… maybe this is only crazy awesome to me, but in my mind these connections and implications to my life are out of this world! The Lord is always with us, always for us, always strengthening us, and always speaking to us. And I'm excited for the mountain top, the Real Mountain Top, Mt. Zion, where we'll finally see Him!