There’s always a lesson in the garden, and continually I am listening for God’s voice in the garden. He is so faithful to speak if only I take time to look and listen. These days I see that the fight is on! January, the cold month of winter, keeps its rough war against flowers in the garden. Yet, all through the month roses have been fighting on and even blooming! Never before have I had roses blooming in January. They look a bit stressed, but their color is vibrant and bright. An analogy has come home to my heart this week.
Reading the book of Judges has been put off recently because it is such a sad book. Israel had been rescued and redeemed out of Egypt, and had seen the miraculous wonders of God’s hand for them. Yet Israel failed to obey God and take the new land. Chapter 2:12 says they forsook the Lord God of their fathers and they followed other gods all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. Down a few verses to verse 17, it says they turned “quickly” from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord. Oh how quick we are to turn from God’s way! The next chapter is what has come home to my heart this week. Chapter 3:1 - 2 says the Lord left nations in the land that He might test Israel by them, that “Israel might be taught to know war”.
Resisting war and always wanting to run is not God’s way. I am one to run away rather than fight or confront. I am willing to walk away and let someone have their way if only it makes for “peace”. God’s way is for us to learn to war, to put on all the promised armor Ephesians 6 talks about, to fight the enemy of our souls. I cannot outrun or out-hide my enemy. I have to press forward and fight to take ground. I have to fight. Fight the assaults on my mind. Fight assaults that want to overtake me such as insecurities, depression, fear, failures, etc. which are constantly being speared toward my mind especially in human relationships. I’m talking about fighting the war in my mind and heart against these thoughts, not fighting people. There is no true peace when I walk away without fighting those darts that assail me. My only peace is at the feet of Jesus, and He said I will have tribulation in the world. John 16:33 and Matthew 10:34-36 tell me that in this world I will have to fight and war. I have put on the armor of God for protection, but God wants me to put it on to fight as well and press on.
These roses are a clear picture to me of fighting back, and they are beautiful to behold in the dead of winter! Against the continual dreary fog and cold of winter they provide a bright bold color that encourages my heart to fight back and take ground, too. May we continually remember that God wants us to stand and fight for His ground in our hearts and lives. Let us not make deals with the enemy. Let us not settle but press on for higher ground. May our Lord help us as we fight in His name for His glory. May we not settle until our peace is only in Jesus.
K.C.
