Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,
for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy. Ps 61:1-3

What a comforting expression of protection revealing the Lord as our shield and refuge. For us it is a strong defensive posture - at times very necessary.

Consider that we are also called to an active initiative - to bring the kingdom of heaven into the earth. To destroy the works of the devil. To establish righteousness in the earth. To break strongholds of fear and oppression. To declare the Good News of the Prince of Life who inhabits believing sons and daughters, and through them, transforms culture.

He commands us to go in His Triumphant Name and wreak havoc on sickness, deception, bondage and torment. But through fear of presumption we have forestalled that commission. Such fear has confused our mission and weakened our resolve to set out in the power and authority He has granted us.

We are sound and solid in our declaration of God as our protector, our shield, our defender. But not nearly as confident in Him being the sword of our righteousness; being our residing Champion who scatters 1000. Do we declare with exultant shouts, the Lord is our conqueror, our mighty warrior, the strength of our right hand?

We sometimes sing of God as the strength of our life, but rarely run into battle under his banner. We declare that the weapons of our warfare are mighty to the pulling down of strongholds. Where, then, is the plunder of our warfare? Where, the trophies to lay at His feet?

Let God arise, saints. Let His enemies be scattered. Recall His words to Gideon:

The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.”. . . The Lord looked at him and said, “ Go in this your strength and deliver Israel . . . Have I not sent you?” (from Judges 6:12-14)

For the Lord has driven out great and strong nations from before you; and as for you, no man has stood before you to this day. One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, just as He promised you. So take diligent heed to yourselves to love the Lord your God. Joshua 23:9-11