A Storm in the Woods

This morning I had dream that has clung to me all day. It was about a terrifying storm in the woods, and an angel of God.

There were two plots of land in the woods and they were the same size. They both were dense with incredibly tall fir trees, and each plot had a whole bunch of picnic tables. I was on one plot, sitting at a picnic table with Ryan and Jed, my mom and stepdad, and my siblings. The plot next to ours was sort of fenced off by thick overgrowth (briers, dense foliage, etc.) so we kept on our side and the people on the other side stuck to theirs.

While we were eating together, a huge wind storm came up out of nowhere, howling like the roar of immense waves breaking. It was like an instant hurricane. Some of the tall trees above us were plucked up out of the ground and thrown down all around the picnic tables. I had half a second to look and see where the tree nearest me might land, and the next thing I knew, one of the men at our table had thrown himself onto me to protect me from the falling trees. There was terrible, horrifying howling of wind all around us, and everything happened too fast for words. But somehow, we all survived. No one on our plot of land was killed or even injured in any way. Miraculously, the trees all landed in between the people.

As we began to pick ourselves up and look around, a second tidal wave of wind rammed through the plot of land next to ours. It had more trees than ours did, and most of them were leveled in a blink of an eye. There was no resistance, only swift destruction. It was horrifying to see. Every person in that camp was killed by the falling trees. No one survived.

I suddenly realized something. The people on my plot of land fell into two categories: Christians, and those who still had a chance to become Christ-followers (because their hearts were soft). The people on the other plot of land were too far gone...so hard-hearted, stiff-necked, and who hated God and his laws and everything about him. There was not an ounce of hope left for them, and they knowingly chose that path.

I was separated from my family by a couple of yards, and as I made my way back to them over the rubble, something to my right caught my eye. It was an angel of God sent to kill anyone who was hiding out on our plot of land, pretending to be a Christ-follower. I couldn’t see the angel. The only things I could see were small zings and flashes of whitish, electric blue light as the angel of God killed the imposters. Part of me was very curious to see the angel, but I was so incredibly terrified! I saw my siblings, Ryan, and Jed, and dove onto them, shielding them and praying desperately that the angel wouldn’t kill us. He had no intention of killing us, but I was so scared, I couldn’t help but pray.

After the storm had passed and the angel was gone, we kind of walked around in a daze, and everyone worked on making their way home. I remember saying to my friend Samantha that I was so glad not to have been on the other side of the fence. She was quick to remind me that our lives were spared by God’s grace alone, and not by anything good we had done. We could have very easily been on the other plot of land.

*******

I don’t remember the last time I had a dream like this, so I thought it would be good to write it down and share it. Other than that, I really don’t know what to say about it. It really shook me up, but I don’t know if it’s “prophetic” or anything like that. I just figured I’d put it out there.

The Real Enemy in the Abortion Debate

Photo source: Gratisography

There's something shady going on here. There's a powerful force at work behind the scenes, pulling strings and pitting good people against each other. You may already know where I'm going with this.

Ephesians 6:12(KJV)

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

There are two main camps in this war, and they have been fighting a bloody war for many years. One group calls themselves Pro Choice, and the other calls themselves Pro Life. Both sides swear to be upholding the cause of the oppressed, swear to be providing the most compassionate answers, and swear that the other side is completely out of touch. They provide facts, statistics, and education. They show various proofs, they picket and demonstrate, and work long hours to guarantee the outcome they desire. 

The tricky part is that many of these people ARE doing the right thing, saying the right thing, and working to bring an end to abortion. But they're doing it in ways that hurt each other. Can you imagine if the two camps came together and found common ground? Impossible, right? I can't imagine the protesters throwing down their signs and tearfully embracing the folks on the other side of the debate. It would take a miracle. 

I've talked with Christians on both sides of the fence, and here's what I've discovered: They both have something in common - it might even be the most important thing, or at least close. The Pro Choice Christians and the Pro Life Christians that I have personally talked to both agree that abortion is horrible. I can't speak for people who don't share my Christian faith, but I think it's very reasonable to assume that most people, whatever sign they're holding up in public, at the heart of it they hate abortion and wish it didn't exist at all. 

So who is the real enemy, if it's not my Pro Choice neighbor? It's is the Enemy of our souls, Satan. 

He pits one side against another, creating an excruciatingly long and bloody battle. While the two sides are busy bringing each other down with arguments and answers, Satan is wreaking havoc on women, unborn children, and the people who love them. 

For the sake of clarity, let me say this: I firmly believe in education and the role it has played in helping women take care of themselves and choose life. I firmly believe in securing better health care for women in underprivileged communities. I also firmly believe in the power of crisis pregnancy centers, mobile ultrasound units, people who pray for the mother and child, and those who are sharing their own stories of the trauma of abortion, or the miracle of a child they thought they couldn't keep. 

These are tools and weapons that God has given us to bring hope, light, and compassion into a very dark, morbid situation. I myself had an unplanned pregnancy ten years ago, and chose adoption for my child. I've been very vocal about my story because I've noticed a lack of testimony from women who have placed a child in and adoptive home. And because I've been vocal about it, other women have sought me out when they've found themselves in crisis. I've been able to answer lots of questions about adoption and clear up some of the mystery and fear that surrounds it. So far, each of the three women I "counseled" chose to keep their baby. One of them had been raped by a long-time friend, and her baby was a gorgeous little blond-haired boy. 

But back to my point: The Real Enemy. 

Satan has us so intensely focused on educating people that we have [almost] lost sight of his work in this. We still pray at church that God would open blind eyes and replace fear with hope, but those prayers lack the intensity that our arguments and debates hold. Why doesn't the devil's hand in this get our blood boiling when we pray? Why don't we get as angry at Satan as we do when the media posts another pro-abortion piece, shouting how wonderful this "right" of abortion is? 

We get so angry with each other, even with the unseen people behind the scenes who promote abortion, that we seriously - seriously - miss the mark. We don't need to tamp down our anger when we pray to God. We don't need to whine or plead (though there's nothing intrinsically wrong with pleading). We don't need to plan our words out so that they sound like an 18th century monk spoke them whilst gazing out over a quiet, pastoral landscape. 

Abortion is ugly, destructive, merciless, and isolating. I think most of us can agree on that. 

Here's one way we can pray:

Father, this is ridiculous. People are hurting and dying every day, and it seems like you're not really doing anything about it. Send your warring angels to fight the Enemy back! Pick up your sword and fight on behalf of the women and children! Show your glory and send Satan running! We're in over our heads. We can't do this, and we are frustrated. We need you. When are you going to show up? When are you going to defeat your enemies? Strike him down, God. Beat the devil back! Strengthen your warriors! Reveal yourself, and blow away the smoke and mirrors of the Enemy. Crush his power, drain him of his influence, and break his back. Beat him into the ground, God! You see what's happening here. When will you come and silence the Accuser? How long will you let him lie, steal, kill and destroy? God, help us! You are our Victory. Without you, we have nothing. Bind the Enemy and hurl him into the sea. Destroy his power the way he has destroyed so many lives. Bring his glory down to dust. Cover him with shame. Expose his schemes and tricks. Expose his motives and deceit. Show the world who he really is, and then show the world who you really are! Blast your light into the darkness and send the demons running. Slice fear into a million pieces, and grind shame into a powder! Leave nothing left for the Enemy to use against your people. Send your peace and your healing like medicine and cool water to the hurting. Lift them up high out of the Enemy's reach. Fight for justice, God! Bring light and salvation! Show your glory!

May God graciously fill our hearts with courage to pray boldly. After all, we serve the creator the universe! 

Photo source: Pixabay

Quick Disclaimer: I know there are plenty of people who pray like this, because years ago I was a part of a church that prayed boldly. I don't assume that this post is going to be anything new for many of you, because God is a big God and he has all kinds of prayer warriors. The reason I'm taking the time to write about The Real Enemy is because in my little circle, in my little world, I don't hear people talking like this. And I miss that. So that's why I'm putting my own voice out there - to encourage myself, and maybe encourage someone else along the way!