Taking a moment of silence is one of the several gestures that show respect and honor when mourning the loss of soldiers in many countries. These men and women dedicate their lives to serving their countries, enduring difficult duties, physical exercise, time away from family, life threatening disorders, the risk of disability, imminent death, et cetera! Yet, they boldly make the choice to take on their assignments, hoping that their mission will by all means end in victory! That’s faith!

Soldiership is innate! As soon as we are born, we hit the ground running, defending ourselves from anyone or anything that is likely to cause us harm. Fight or flight; our ultimate zeal to survive! Jael, fearlessly seized an opportunity with a treacherous murder seduction! Judges 4:21-22. The wise woman of Abel-Beth-Maachah discreetly, yet boldly orchestrated a major beheading, while it was all candlelight candid for King David, somewhere in the Desert of Paran, when a beautiful woman named Abigail won over his heart with her wisdom! 1 Samuel 25.

While it is sufficient to say that these three women inarguably helped prevent undesirable bloodshed through their act of courage, their response would probably not own up to being fearless, but rather to encountering a difficult situation in the face of terror, and having to make a decision! And the right decision it was indeed! Faith transcends sight. The belief in something greater is our motivation, our driving force, our hope.

Transitioning from one level of growth to another is no joke. Every developmental stage has its pros and cons and just like the service men and women above, it takes a lot of hard work and perseverance to break through in pursuit of our passions, goals and dreams! In dominion pursuit! God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28.

How good and pleasant it is, when God’s people dwell together in unity. Psalm 133:1. A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17. So where did we go wrong? As I deeply reflect with great intent, I can’t help but ponder on the rising tension due to world terror, including the recent attacks on my country Kenya; innocent blood shed and lost lives. Words to sum up my revelation, elude me. He’s too perfect to describe this our God, our loving Father. His plans for us all are without a doubt, good, for He is good. Amidst terror and chaos, teach us to turn our hearts back to you, Dear First Love! Grant us the wisdom to understand our purpose and teach us how to pray according to your will. Teach us how to stay guarded and grounded through your word, that we may experience your mighty Hand!

Sensitize us to your Spirit as you teach us how to hear and discern your voice. How to clothe ourselves in your armor and have compassion over our fellow brothers. Teach us to be poor in spirit and rich in kindness that we may radiate your everlasting love! Grant us an alert spirit, rejoicing in you always, without being ignorant of the enemy’s conniving ways. Teach us how to receive your love as well as share it with others. Teach us obedience, exercising godliness with contentment. Teach us your will and reveal your heart to us in your precious Son’s name.

Revelation 8:1-4. When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand in God’s presence, and they were given seven trumpets. Another angel came with a gold incense burner and stood at the altar. He was given a lot of incense to offer on the gold altar in front of the throne. He offered it with the prayers of all of God’s people. The smoke from the incense went up from the angel’s hand to God along with the prayers of God’s people.

When I first read verse one above, I was completely blown away by the thought that this is how our prayers get presented to the Lord, every time! He delights in listening to them and answering us according to His will. I began to get excited, then paused to thank Him for being such a loving Father and being so mindful of me even at that moment as I unfolded more mysteries behind His intricate wisdom! I quickly reflected on Psalm 46:10: ‘Be still and know that I am God’. The expectation of God for us His Children, is to completely be still in joyful hope, trusting that He hears and will answer in due time! A reminiscent of the troops honor! I imagined His mood, as joy and sadness coexisted through our petitions! None of it had caught Him by surprise! He knew what to expect, way before it was presented to Him: A thought too beautiful to fathom!

Reading on, a major shift took place in my frame of mind, as the breathtaking silence was succeeded by catastrophe! I thought of John and what a tough cookie he really must have been! Undoubtedly afflicted by these mesmerizing events, a lack of a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, (PTSD) diagnosis remained a mystery, until I realized the truth! He couldn’t have suffered from one! God wouldn’t have allowed it! Just like Jesus, he had to endure, so that scripture may be fulfilled! That we may soldier on in faith and in joyful anticipation of that which is soon to come! He had fully been equipped for the job. Suddenly, my mind reverted to the reason why I quit reading the book of Revelation in the first place; fear!

The enemy always seemed to have a way with me, gripping me with fear and winning every time! To my understanding, the odds of being among 144,000 out of 7 billion, seemed absolutely not in my favor! The bar had been set too high! I would never reach it, not while studying the book of Revelation or any other for that matter without understanding! I had been striving to eat meat before growing any teeth! It was too soon to be weaned. I needed to stay on the milk a little longer, building the patience to mature into the next level! I needed to grow!

Bringing up all the 7 billion of us is not a one parent task! It takes the Holy Trinity; God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, to have a complete work in us! Soon, I joined a Bible study in my local church, for two years! The more I searched out the heart of God; the more I matured in wisdom and understanding! I am not quite there yet, but thanks to the Holy Spirit, my Dear Friend, that I am no longer a slave to fear!

A time is coming, when the Heaven will go silent for a good 30 minutes, preceding the detriment that will soon follow. No prayers will be answered that day, for the time will have come for the Lord to test the loyalty of those who claim to really serve Him in Spirit and in Truth. A time when the word in the bones will be the only way of escape for the believing soldier; a son of God, (or daughter), an heir to His Kingdom, a faithful and loyal friend and without a shadow of doubt, His most prized possession! A time when the truth will need no defense. When faith will inevitably be the only weapon of war, and like The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., and all other martyrs, every armed soldier must boldly fight, even to the point of death! The war is not against humans, but forces and authorities and rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. Ephesians 6:12.

Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live – a long life; longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. So I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. – Martin Luther King Jr.

I tremble in affectionate reverence of your truth o Lord my redeemer!

May I be diligent enough to make my calling and election sure! 2 Peter 1:10.

 
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10