Straws

Recently while sitting here at my computer and scrolling through posts I was surprised by a word. I just barely heard it, it was a quick whisper and it was gone. I heard “The straw that broke the camel’s back”.

I spent a little time thinking on that saying I’d heard all my life. It seemed strange to me and at first I thought to pass by the opportunity to pursue praying into it more. It didn’t seem to fit any spiritual lesson. I understood the concept of a camel who was loaded down and able to carry heavy burdens, having been very successful at doing this for ages. But suddenly one day a small and harmless looking straw was added to the load and it became more that the camel could bear.

“ The idiom the straw that broke the camel’s back, alluding to the proverb “it is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back”, describes the seemingly minor or routine action which causes an unpredictably large and sudden reaction, because of the cumulative effect of small actions. “ (Google)

That made some sense to me, but what does it mean to one who is a faith walker? I needed to meditate and research it.

Proverbs 25:1 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

I needed to search it out. If you’ve one who seeks to hear the voice of God you understand that there’s always some confusion to wade though . Many ideas might come to mind about what it might mean. But as we set out to do some patient waiting we can come to a place of hearing the Lord add some wisdom to the word. Soon it will cause a light to shine on a lesson he wants to teach us. This is always the process for meditation.

Joshua1 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

I was more or less forced into a time of meditation because the thought kept coming back It was persistent, and I gave my thoughts on it over to the Lord finally.

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Holy Spirit is able to pray in ways greater than I can even ask or expect. As I waited a phrase I had heard often came to mind. ”Break the back of the enemy” OK, I was getting more and more interested. The light I began to see that intrigued me was that God was telling me that his chosen ones are the small insignificant thing he wants to use to destroy evil powers. I thought on the story of Gideon. He was called by God to deliver Israel from it’s enemies who had been so successful at stealing their harvest. But he felt small and insignificant.

Judges 6:15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”But God spoke and told him to go. He said “I will be with you”

He listened to the instruction of the Lord and God hand picked an army. While I thought on that I heard the Lord say “It’s the unity that will break the back of the enemy!” That sounds like God’s good success to me! I thought about how the enemy had always enjoyed good success as he set out to do damage to my loved ones. But I learned that he is a liar and a deceiver. He wants us to believe that he is the strongman. He wants to bind us up in fear and unbelief so that he can destroy our peace and prosperity in Jesus. He wants to keep us from being effective against his kingdom.

Mark 3:27In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.

I was beginning to feel more and more significant! Because I saw in the passage from Joshua that God’s good success was the promise for deep listening and meditation. Meditation was causing my way to become more and more prosperous. We know that Jesus Christ is our strongman. He lives in us through his Holy Spirit. I’ve thoughts lots on this, the way we see ourselves. It’s a process all the way though life to learn how to grow up in the Lord. When we realize that we have a clarion call on our life to fulfill, like Gideon did, we finally come to a place of confidence like Gideon walked in. He said “The sword of the Lord, and Gideon”. He learned to walk in the instruction of the Lord daily in everyday life matters, first bringing his own house into God’s order and then co-operating with God to rescue his people from the defeats they had suffered at the hand of the Midianites. God changed their season from one of defeat to one of triumph. Great food for thought.

This is not just a personal word for me, although it is very much that. It’s for all who hear his voice. He shows us our worth. When he sets us in Christ He desires to hide us deep in his love and train us up in warfare. The core of gospel truth is that Jesus stripped the enemy of all his power at Calvary and we are to be prepared to be the vessels God uses to be a demonstration of that. .We are the small insignificant thing that becomes a real threat to the good success the enemy has always had in our houses. When we know the truth, the truth will set us free to rise up and soar in the fearless and victorious power of the Lord. God’s word says that he always causes triumph in Christ Jesus. We abide in Christ and our hope is set on eternal things, high above all opposing powers. We have received and walk in a kingdom that cannot be shaken. By God’s transformational love and amazing grace we become meek and gentle, yet mighty in him. We become as a little child before him and He makes us bold to trust him in our wars for his triumphs. This is impossible for men to do but through Holy Spirit nothing is impossible with God.

Psalms 60:12Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

It’s full armor time! Yielded vessels are being filled with more than enough light and truth to prevail over the dark kingdom Are you ready to rise up so that we can break the back of the enemy?

1 Cor 16:9

For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

Plenty of opposition will come and we will need amazing grace to bless and not be offended. To keep our peace and maintain our kindnesses. But the good fight of faith makes us first warriors and overcomers. God’s word says that no weapon formed against us can prosper.

Jeremiah 23:29

Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

And because we believe the Lord’s report we are destined to win. With passionate love for our Beloved we become the bride of Christ making herself ready. We know him as our valiant, blameless and glorious lover guarding our priceless treasure, the reverent fear of the Lord. With faith and patience we will inherit the promises. And we will go where we are sent and do what we are given. Listen for his voice, he will keep inviting us to come up higher. Each new level opens up more faith and glory. Meditate on what he reveals to you. Because he has so much more to show us.