Israel

by Amy

I went to bed around 3am last night. Preparing for an international trip can do that to you. It wasn't my plan to be up that late but as weeks turned into days, days turned into hours and, as per usual, I found myself trying to "get it all done" in a hurry. 

There were all kinds of preparing I was trying to accomplish before this trip. Why is it when you are leaving home for a while everything seems to get in the way and random stuff pops out of nowhere? Things that shouldn't come up do. Projects at work become stressful. One errand turns into twenty. _____. At a certain point you start asking if somehow you are being spiritually attacked!

This past week it seems like there was something at every corner of my life that was in pure disaster. Due dates, banks accounts, health, relationships, family, pets, etc...you name it, something was not working as normal. Even my emotions have been off balance. I finally asked God the question, "Is the devil trying to attack me before going on this trip?" I did get an answer. Just not one I expected. 

Yes....and no.

I was invited this year to go to Israel with a group of people and I joyfully said yes. Israel has been a dream of mine for many years. I can't say all my life because it wasn't until I moved to DC that I started thinking about it. That was eight years ago. I guess you say that's when Israel really became a dream of mine to accomplish. This year I am seeing this dream come to fruition. To say I'm excited is...well, an understatement. 

The progression of preparing myself to go has been slow. I thought I would be read up on the Word, noting every place we will visit in the scriptures - ready to grab a tissue just reading passages where I know I will be visiting. None of that. I didn't do one bit of spiritual preparing. 

To be honest, I've spent the majority worrying, being afraid, going through anxiety, and allowing the devil to steal my joy. That's where he won. He stole my joy. 

The worry, fear, anxiety and sadness has not stemmed from me going on the trip. It stemmed from every other trifle thing around me. The devil is not attacking me by giving me the problem of fraudulent charges on my bank account this week. That's someone else. That's the world around me. The devil starts where he always does - my mind. By allowing him to plant seeds of worry and fear I allowed him to steal my joy in getting ready to fulfill a dream of mine. By allowing myself to listen to  him I have taken my mind, one of the most powerful parts of me, and laid it at his feet. 

In all the preparing I forgot my helmet of salvation. But all wasn't lost. I won the battle in my mind. It may have been this last week but I won. 

God has an amazing way of revealing Himself, His love and His faithfulness. This week I took control of my thoughts, my fears, and anxiety, and I laid them where I should have weeks ago - at the feet of my Heavenly Father. Isn't that where I'm supposed to lay them? 

Matthew 11:28-30, " Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." 

1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."

Things happen in life that we can't control. It doesn't always mean it is the devil attacking you. Personally, I have seen that I get attacked more with my thoughts than anything else. Knowing this - admitting this has been the start to overcoming it. 

I may not have had the spiritual preparation that I wanted, but I did start with what I already know of God's Word. I used it to combat what the devil was trying to steal. I took scriptures, prayer, wisdom from those closest to me, and courage to tackle it. 

Why let the devil steal your joy? Why let him get away with it? The Word says we are to put on the full armor of God. It starts with the helmet of salvation - to guard our minds and thoughts. I know who I am in Christ and nothing will change that. As I've said before - I know it. Now I'll own it. 

I hope Israel is ready for me as much as I am ready for Israel!

Speak to me Lord, now and when I am there. Reveal your secrets to me as You say in Your Word you want to. My heart, mind, and spirit are open to what you have for me. I am completely vulnerable to Your Spirit. Teach me, mold me, and show me how to be more like You. Let's go!