Warrior

It's easy for me to see myself as a princess.

I like flowers, rainbows, butterflies, and skipping when no one is looking.

It's easy for me to claim Zephaniah 3:17 and Isaiah 43 for myself. It's easy to hear, "Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away" from Song of Solomon and know that I'm deeply pursued and wooed by my Romancer and true Husband.

Sunrise over Lake Victoria

It's less easy for me to see myself as a warrior.

Toto (mother) with Alika

I know that we're in a spiritual battle. I've fought in prayer against the rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, and spiritual forces of evil in this present darkness. I have heard testimony after testimony of people delivered from demons and how God preserved a remnant of His faithful ones amongst a primary school. I have seen things and known the spiritual realm in a very real way.

And yet, sometimes I forget.

I forget that Satan holds people in bondage until I sit and listen to stories of demons and tales of talking trees and people who live in the water. I hear the fascination in the tale, but also fear behind each story. Dear friends of mine who are saved by grace admit to me that they fear. They fear because they can't explain the things they've seen themselves and what has been passed down through their tribe. They know that God is more powerful, but they fear because they know that Satan is working.

The sun has spoiled many of the crops

Last week I had the privilege of spending a week in Napak, a district in northern Uganda. We stayed with my friend Sarah's family and got to know her toto (mother) and crazy, hilarious tatas (grandmothers). We stayed in Iriiri and traveled around to other trading centers -- we certainly got our exercise! We ate a lot of food -- my friend William realized that my stomach is about the size of a golf ball, so thankfully he was able to sneak my food when I didn't want to offend! We talked about cultural differences -- how women are supposed to sit and dowry (they are offended that we don't give dowry for the women, after all the mother does for the child and she doesn't even receive one cow!) We heard stories of the animals there and even received an ostrich egg! We laughed harder than I can ever remember. It was a good week.

We also saw a people who stand in fear.

Napak is surrounded by mountains!

Suddenly, I remembered that this battle is not against flesh and blood. I recalled that Satan uses every tactic to hold people in bondage, and here the biggest chains are alcoholism and fear. They fear the spirits they know are present. They fear death. They fear evil that is very real.

But then again, don't I also fear? I've had demons in my room, and I shook with fear. I've talked to a man possessed by demons, and I went home and cried. In the [physical] spiritual battle here, I've always had dear friends to encourage me and speak truth of God's power. But what if I hadn't known that myself and hadn't been reminded of it from others? Where would my faith stand? How could it stand?

William gave tata a soda!

Friends, do you know that you are a warrior? Do you know that we fight against the spiritual forces of evil in this present darkness? It's easy to be pursued by God and rejoice in that, and do! Be wooed by the Lord. He is so passionate for us. But at the same time, we are His warriors. We're told to put on the armor of God.

He told Joshua, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you may go."

I want truth to penetrate through to the Karamojong tribe. I want truth to penetrate in my own life. I want to know and make it known that spiritual warfare is real and powerful, but God already won the victory on Calvary and we will stand in His victory in eternity.

William, Toto, and myself our last day

So Jesus said... "If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Tata Anna, oh they made us laugh!

Would you pray?

• TRUTH would be proclaimed and received amongst the Karamojong
• Satan would be bound and chains would be broken in Masese
• That I would fight with His strength in prayer in this spiritual battle
• That I would have eyes to see the spiritual realm again, and faith to know that He is all powerful
• Freedom would be known