Hope (part 3)

She emerged from the barn door as if walking on stilts. Slowly like a robot she walked in front of us as we sat there with tears welling up in our eyes. Hope was walking! Praises to God. The work and prayers and effort had been honored by the Lord. She was a walking miracle.
About six weeks later a beautiful ewe lamb was born with an unusual silver colored fleece. I names her Miracle. Hope had provided two miracles...Herself and her new born lamb.
How true it is in daily life, hope does provide a miracle! But the lesson I learned from watching the drama being played out on my farm those months, was one the Lord taught me about standing. Hope stood during her attack which helped her not be gutted!
"Oh Lord, I thought, is it not that way with us, too? The enemy of our souls comes upon us like a roaring lion or a pack of wild dogs, seeking to kill and devour. But You tell us to stand. The fruit of a relationship with You, born by us, is the fruit of Thy sweet spirit. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and self Control. The devil wants to"gut" us so we no longer bear these attributes of intimacy! Oh. Father, praises You spoke to me in the drama of my farm, speaking also in the words of scripture that made sense to my heart. You place these armor parts upon my soul as I choose to accept them and stand. That You fight our battles, the battles is the Lord's and I am safe in Your tender care. When I fell and was damaged You cared and made me whole again, and thus a miracle was born.

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet filled with the readiness that comes form the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:11-18 NIV

"He said: 'Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's..You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you'" 2 Chronicles 2015.17 NIV