Warrior Princess

When I think of arriving in Heaven, many images come to mind.  Sometimes I think I just want to collapse at the feet of Jesus and get a big hug.  Others will say we won’t be able to speak at the sight of Him.  I was thinking today of a warrior princess.  She’s strong, like Wonder Woman.  She’s got her armor on and a shield with her.  She has cuts, nicks and bruises but she’s still fighting. She’s dirty from the places she’s had to go to finish her race.  I think of our walk in life like this, and this image is what I imagine when we finally come to the destination we’ve fought so hard to get to, to believe in, to not give up on.

Think about some of the trials in your own life.  When friends have betrayed you.  Maybe you worked so hard for a promotion and did the best job, but still the favorite was chosen over you.  People turn their backs on you for no reason.  Sickness can overtake us without warning.  Loved ones taken in the flash of an eye.  Unexpected sorrows of many kinds.  Unforeseen evils.  There are plenty of circumstances that are hurtful in life.  But it’s how we react and go on afterward that gives us our true merit.  

You see, I believe, our earned battle scars are actually earned when we come back from these circumstances and put on our Christ-likeness and decide to go on.  We don’t give up.  We push through.  We choose to keep believing that God is still good.  Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my favorite verses for all types of seasons.  “For I know the plans I have for you, plans for a hope and a future. Plans for good and not for evil.”  

More than likely you have heard a sermon about the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-18).  The Bible is our sword.  Our faith is our shield.  The helmet is the Lord’s righteousness that covers our minds.  The belt of truth keeps us girded up.  The shoes of peace. Can you picture the warrior yet?  

Life is a constant battle.  Either circumstances or inner turmoil are always against us.  We fight day and night to stay on our path, to keep our faith in what we’ve learned and been taught from the scriptures. We fight the fiery darts from the evil one that are hurled at us as we traverse this life.  We have a target on our backs.  (Ephesians 6:16)

I imagine a great battle scene each day as I go.  Swinging at this dart of insult. “React in love!” Ha!  When something unplanned appears in the path, my helmet is fastened tighter, I draw my shield (“I know what God has told me, where I am headed”), my sword comes out reminding me what goes ahead of me.  Who does my actual fighting when I let Him?  
Zechariah 4:6 “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. “

These my friends are the reasons we need to be built up in our Spirits.  We have a real battle facing us daily.  Every decision is molding us to be ready for the next steps in our Heavenly walk.  When you get there you will bow and hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.” Keep fighting.  The battle is most certainly worth every moment. 

Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”