Personal Invitation...

Heaven's Arsenal

No. You aren't hallucinating. This is a new post. I only have a small speck of time, but in lieu of our church website getting a huge makeover, how could I let the women's ministry look so unkempt? I thought I'd take a moment to share something that the Lord spoke to my heart a couple of weeks ago. It still echoes in my thoughts throughout the day and I pray it might encourage someone as it did me.

A very special friend of mine was getting married out-of-state and it would require more than 9 hours to drive there. Nine hours of being alone with no meals to cook, no messes to clean up, no dog to yell at, no wood stove to maintain, no email to check...oh, I better get back to my point. It was the first time in almost 4 years that has happened. Better than a spa treatment.

Halfway to my final destination, I began to pour out my heart to the Lord about many personal situations I was going through. The tears (little ones) began to start. Then I prayed for my husband, our family, then many trials that were happening in the ministry and with people we dearly love.

All of the sudden, I saw in my thoughts, a huge rock made of flint. A hammer-type tool came down and hit it hard and a huge piece of flint flew off. Then another blow. Then a blow from a rock, then something else. The blows came from every direction and hit all over that hunk of flint. Then it stopped and a hand uncovered what remained. There was an arrow head, a spear head, and all sorts of like instruments. The hand picked up the arrow head and attached it to a shaft and then tucked it into a quiver. As well the other instruments with what they required. Then the Lord said, "Shannon, for many years you have prayed that I would make you into a sharp instrument. An arrow in My quiver. A sharp threshing instrument. And that the Word in your mouth would be sharp. You've prayed to not get dull in any area of the spirit. Every blow that hits your life, no matter where it comes from, how it comes, or who delivers it...even when from the enemy...is merely being used to sharpen you. Then sharper you become, the more aerodynamic you are when facing the contrary winds of adversity and resistance. The tempest will not blow you backward. And so it is with all of your brothers and sisters you've been praying for.  They are being hit, but they are being sharpened...for the warfare will increase."

You know, when the Lord blesses us unexpectedly with His perspective and His reassurance, it is overwhelming. Though the vast majority of times, He wants us to walk by faith and not sight. To trust and not fear. To hold fast to His promises and His Word despite our feelings and circumstances. Yet, every now and then, He breaks through to reinforce us and infuse His strength in our weakness in the battle. I've been battle-weary.

If you are also, I've already prayed that the Lord will use this to speak to you as well. Here are a few scriptures that the Lord referred to and that I have prayed over for many years now.

Isa. 41:15 - "Behold, I will make thee a new instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff."

Matt. 13:15 - "For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed..."

Isa. 49:2 - "And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;"