War Archives – Brewing Ground

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 KJV

You find yourself at a fork in the road! You are faced with a life changing situation, need, crisis, disaster, decision, incident, Defining Moment, whatever it is that requires God’s guidance and a decision. You need a plan. You need to know the next step. You need answers. If you are a child of God you are praying and listening, referencing the Bible, seeking Godly counsel, making a list of pros and cons, and evaluating the possible outcome of each road. And you get NOTHING! No clear direction. You keep wishing

God would just text you and tell you exactly what to do and right now. Wouldn’t that be nice! I can’t tell you how many times in my life I just needed Him to text me! But, you find yourself waiting with pressure mounting as you feel that something needs to be done but you just don’t know what to do yet. So, you are still praying, still reading your Bible, still listening to Godly counsel, and still waiting! In our microwave society we tend to feel like something needs to happen and right now. We are so impatient; we get anxious or nervous or frustrated. The pressure continues to mount with something “pending” and not having what we need to “fix” it. God’s response, “Be still, and know that I am God! Wait patiently and rest in Me! I’ve got this!”

^“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” Psalm 37:7 KJV

God has a different time table than we do. Sometimes God says wait. You may be thinking, “But, I need to do something!” The job He has given you right then is to wait. While you are waiting, stop and smell the coffee. Give yourself a chance to slow down, be grateful for your many blessing, and be in the moment. What you need to remember about His timing – it is ALWAYS PERFECT! Let’s take a look at Daniel and a time in his life when he waited in prayer for his people.

Daniel and his people had been oppressed and in turmoil for about 70 years due to sin and rebellion. He went to bat for his people and did a bold thing. He sat himself down and continuously prayed for his people for 21 days. He prayed for them asking for their forgiveness and an end to their oppression. During this time, he ate no pleasant bread, meat, had no wine, and did not anoint himself. For 21 days he mourned, fasted, and waited with no response.

“²In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. ³I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” Daniel 10:2-3 KJV

Then came day 22. An angel of the Lord came to visit him.

^“5Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: ⁶His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.” Daniel 10:5-6 KJV

The angel even explained why there was a delay in his coming before answering Daniel’s plea for help for his people.

^“12Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. ¹³But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.” Daniel 10:12-14 KJV

Whoa! The first day that Daniel prayed the angel was sent. But, he encountered resistance along the way. The evil spirit that was over the kingdom of Persia tried to block his way and prevent him from completing his job and delivering his message. There was literally a spiritual battle taking place. In fact, God had to send reinforcements – the angel Michael. So, for 21 days a spiritual battle was raging and Daniel was waiting. Daniel, I’m sure at some point in time, had to think that his prayers were not being heard. He had 21 days of fasting, mourning, and no response. Do you think you would have lasted that long or would you have taken matters into your own hands? But, while Daniel was waiting, God was working.

When you are faced with your fork in the road, don’t be in such a big hurry to make something happen that you charge ahead before it’s time. If you do that, you run the risk of messing up what God is working on. While we wait on God’s perfect timing, it is time for us to stay tuned into God. Rest in the fact that while you are waiting, God is working.

^“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” Psalm 37:7 KJV

Here is the best part about waiting! While you are waiting, God is already working on your behalf! He is setting the stage. He is gathering all the key people to fill all the necessary roles. He is fighting the spiritual battle for you. He may even be calling in reinforcements. He is arranging everything! Now, you can’t see what is going on backstage and may be getting impatient. But don’t! He is orchestrating and directing one of the greatest shows of your life – one worth waiting for! So pray, listen, read your Bible, get Godly counsel, give your situation to God, rest in Him, be grateful and stop and smell the coffee. Release it into God’s hands and stay in tune with Him. This is your Brewing Ground! When His perfect timing has arrived, He will open a door or whisper to your heart the next step. Just rest in God and patiently wait. It is a show worth waiting for!

Let’s Brew – Patiently!

Side Note Before We Begin:

God really laid this on my heart as I have friends, family, and myself in the midst of war. I hope this encourages and blesses you.

“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.” Ephesians 6:12 KJV

One day you are jolted by reality. You are still in the middle of your Brewing Ground fighting the longest war of your life. This is not just a battle; this is a war which is composed of multiple battles all revolving around the same situation. You wonder, “Will it ever end?”

You realize that you are exposed in the middle of enemy territory AND with no map. This has you at a huge disadvantage. The enemy knows the area like the back of their hand – you do not. You have no idea where you are. What you do know, is that you are days from civilization. Your adrenaline surges as you realize that your enemy is closing in on your location; you have no idea where you can even take cover. You have been fighting this war for soooo long and are so tired and weary. All you need is a place to take cover, regroup, think, replenish your supplies, rest. You start to panic as you are realizing there is no way out.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 KJV

Then, peace rushes over you as God reaches out to grab your hand to remind you that He is with you. He reminds you that He knows the way out. He made the terrain and knows your enemy. He knows your Brewing Ground; He knows where the enemy is and what their plans are. He knows where to find cover and regroup. God is your only way out. You must grab His hand, close your eyes, and just trust. This is your ONLY option for survival.

“10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. 11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. 12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.” Psalm 66: 10-12 KJV

As God is leading you, He will take evasive measures in order to avoid and lose the enemy. You will go through fire (scorching desert or forest fire) and water (raging river). You may have to climb mountains, trudge through quick sand, or who knows what else. You may feel like you have been through the wringer; and you have – it’s God’s refining fire. As God is taking you through your Brewing Ground to avoid the enemy and survive your war, He is also refining you. Refining you by removing the impurities. God is heating you up to just the right temperature so that He can then transform you into His masterpiece. He is forming and creating; buffing and polishing. But, this takes a toll. During this time, you may grow weary and only God can offer the relief you need. Let Him lead you to His sanctuary for restoration. He will give you rest.

“23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. ³He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:1-3 KJV

God will make sure that you not only survive but thrive. He has so many promises that we can hold onto. I am currently in the midst of my own war that has been raging for years now. Through it all, He continues to lay on my heart a particular promise.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 KJV

Please, do not miss the important parts in this verse. He will work ALL things (not some but ALL) for good for those that love Him, His followers, that have a relationship with Him. War has casualties; people get hurt. God will take the terrible in our life and He will use it for good. But, in the middle of it all – you can’t always see that big picture. You have no way of knowing how God can use it all for good. Sometimes, it just doesn’t seem possible. That is why you have to trust Him. The ending of our war may not come when we want it to. It may not look like we think it should. It may not end the way we want. God is so creative! He has a way of weaving things together in our life in such a way that, once you can see it all, it is so amazing. However, it may look very different from what you thought it would. God is not just full of promises, but also surprises!

Has your war ended? Is it just beginning? Or, has it not started yet? The end to my war is not in sight just yet. Lately, I have found myself very weary and wondering if it will ever end. In response to these feeling God continues to remind me that whatever happens, He will use it all for good. In fact, God has recently been whispering a new promise to me.

“And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” Hebrews 6:15 KJV

This verse is actually talking about Abraham and God’s promise to give him a son, Isaac. When I came across this verse God whispered something a little different to my heart. He reminded me to be patient and to keep on keeping on. There Is An End! He not only promises that there is an end, but, by continuing on I can claim, with confidence, all of His promises. Until my war ends, I claim the promise that He is with me always! I claim that He will lead me to still waters if I will trust Him; He will give me rest and help restore me when I am weary. I claim that there IS an end and it will be Glorious! Thank You Jesus! Claim Your Promises!

Let’s Brew!