Last week my son brought a friend home for a couple of days – there’s a particular mountain he loves to climb when he’s here and wanted to share the view with her. We had dinner on the front porch and afterward they donned jackets and took off up the holler. Later I asked how the hike went and he said they got half way up the mountain when all got eerily quiet around them. He’s climbed these mountains enough times to know when that certain sound of quiet wraps itself in the air? Trouble’s a-brewin’! Trouble around here could be a 500-pound black bear with cubs! They shortened their climb and returned to a lower elevation!
Nature, by God’s design, has its own warning system. When storms begin to form, birds fly away from it – avoiding danger. How many of us have used the phrase, “The lull before the storm.” We sense things. I, for one, heed warnings. God has an incredible way, via Holy Spirit, of warning me – I call it my “red flag.” If something doesn’t feel right, the red flag begins furling and makes me uncomfortable.
David had an awesome relationship with God. God called him a “man after My own heart.” David was a man of war. He was brave and courageous. Yet, he was wise, and not given to foolish ways when it came to fighting. [Women were another issue altogether!] I believe David’s nemesis was the Philistines, remember Goliath? He was a Philistine and it’s quite apparent they held a grudge against David for killing their hero, Goliath, because they were always ready for a battle with David and his mighty men.
David didn’t just go into battle haphazardly, he inquired of God. (Read the full account here.)
David prayed to God, “Is this the right time to attack the Philistines? Will you give me the victory?”
God answered, “Attack, I’ll give you the victory.”
David and his men were victorious that day – he called it an explosion! The defeated Philistines retreated and fled.
Didn’t take them long before they decided to attack again.
David again prayed to God.
God answered, “This time don’t attack head-on, circle around them and come at them from the Balsam grove. When you hear a sound like shuffling feet in the tops of the Balsams? ATTACK! I will be two steps ahead of you, slaughtering your enemy.”
Take a moment for a happy, hallelujah dance…
Next time you feel under attack by the enemy of your soul, I want you to be still for a moment, praying as you do, and listen with your spiritual ears.
Do you hear Him? The God of Angel Armies? Shuffling feet? Yup, He’s two steps ahead of you, destroying your enemy.
Now, go forth, and walk in victory.
xo
Linking with Beth, Crystal, Holley, Holly, Jaime, Jennifer, Jenny, Kristin, and Winter.
Love that scripture in The Message!
XO
Tammy
Me too!
Amen sister! Why is it so hard to believe sometimes that God always has our back? He’s always there fighting our battles! This encouraged me this morning! PS- we’re neighbors over at WW!
So glad you are encouraged this morning, Shannon!
Amen very encouraging. Thank you I needed that.
He fights for us, The God of Angel Armies is always by my side!
“God’s got this” is something that our son, Bill, a brain cancer patient, says to me. TRUTH, Amen?
Thanks for this today….great reading before we go to work at the convention.
Kathy
God does “have this.”
I Love this! I’m gonna write this verse in my heart! And I’m sharing also
Women with swords!
God seems to always have our backs in times of struggles, we just need to trust that he knows best.
Please pray for traveling mercies today as we head to Ga, NC and Tenn. to attend graduations. Our state is quite wet at the moment.
No signs of the sun peeking out for a few days. Crazy weather.
Hugs, M and M
Angels, Merry!
Got cold chills as I read this.
Our LORD is so marvelous.
God-bumps!!!
I’m gonna be walking around all day today with my head cocked to one side listening for that sound. Not literally, of course, but, wow. Susan, thanks for writing about this beautiful metaphor that encourages me to be watching for the working of God in my life.
And, thank you Michele for your constant encouragement!
What incredible imagery! The picture comes to mind of the trees pressing in to the rescue at the Battle of Helm’s Deep in Tolkein’s Two Towers. The sound the tree tops made was enormous, heralding the rescue before it even began.
I’m going to write this verse down. 🙂
Harmony, I REMEMBER THAT!!! YES – exactly like that. Love that you brought that to my memory.
Hey Susan! What a lovely post about God being with us and fighting our battles. And the mental image I got of your son hiking the mountain with his friend…how lovely that must be! I live in the city – the concrete jungle – so that’s not an everyday part of my life. Thanks for sharing and for being my neighbor over at Coffee for your Heart.
Tiffiney, come hike with us!
Love this and the photo. It reminds of the view outside of Holly’s window where she lives.
You are converting me to the Message version little by little. I used a verse from this version just this week in my writing. Thank you for being faithful to God and His truths!
Thank you for telling me this!
Susan dear, this was exactly what I needed to hear! We’ve got some battles we’re facing and we know things will get hard! However, we also know that we need to keep climbing the mountain. Thanks for the reminder that God is 2 steps ahead of us!
He really is. Fighting bears and all the other things Satan wants to put in our path!
AMEN and AMEN!!!
and, AMEN.
Hey Susan! What a great word this morning, my first from you!! Much appreciated and needed post surgery. The battle is the Lord’s!! And I will be listening!!
WOW!!! Love seeing my old school chum here! I pray your recovery goes speedily and well! (((xo)))
Beautiful images, Susan, physical and spiritual! Thanks for always pointing us to the Truth in God’s Word, reminding me to listen for that still, small voice throughout the day! Many blessings to you, dear friend!
Beth, you are kind!!
Thanks for that encouragement! Love how God gave us so much instruction on how to live life with Him as Commander and Chief!!!
YES, HE DID! Thank you for visiting today!
Yes. This: “He’s two steps ahead of you, destroying your enemy.” Who doesn’t adore The Message Bible? (Have you read much from The Passion Translation? Oh my… I love them both, because –of course!)
I have never read The Passion translation. Maybe 2017!
Yep the God of angel armies…..that he is indeed! Another great post friend!
Thanks, Tara!
Such important things to listen for- the warning signs and the Lord ahead of us, securing the victory. Thanks much!! #TellHisStory
Thanks for coming by Bethany.
Love that Scripture and this post! Yes! let’s go forth and walk in victory. Such an encouraging post! Thank you!
I need to add a PS 🙂
I LOVE poplar trees! In the NLT that is the type of tree mentioned. The poplar truly has such a unique sound & I loved this post as I love listening to it. Now I know why & will always think of this verse when I listen to the ones in our yard 🙂
Ooh, love that Joanne, we have them here as well.
That is awesome! I won’t look at those trees the same 🙂
Never know who’s walking on the treetops!
What a great message in this post! I love the phrase used in the title about “walking in the treetops” and the photo at the heading of the forest! I have been places where that quiet overtakes the entire atmosphere. It makes me want to read the passage in Revelation where it speaks of silence in heaven for a period of time. Always blessed to read your words, Susan! Happy to be your neighbor at Intentional Tuesday’s Linkup.
Always glad to see when I park near you, Pam! Love your words.
I am so grateful God walks ahead of me because He knows I have walked right into traps because I didn’t heed to his warning! Live and learn/I am so much better at listening now! Oh and David my favorite courageous warrior, I have learned a lot from him too! Thank you Susan you know how I love those trees! Now I have a new perspective on the treetops
You will never look at them the same again – I would wish Sarah would read this!
Hallelujah!!! Doing the dance here!!!
I could feel the room shaking – love a good happy, hallelujah dance!!! Thanks Lora for joining in.
Susan, I love this encouragement to journey with enough slowness and intention, always Spirit listening, to be able to “sense” when those eerie stillness and red flags arise. To be in constant conversation with the Lord, checking our moves with His will before we plow ahead, that is the kind of faithful walk I want to live. Thanks for this lovely encouragement. I was hoping to make it to your place this week and then was glad to find you as my neighbor at #FreshMarketFriday. 🙂
Ah….so glad you are here my friend.
Susan, this is so rich in truth for how to battle fear. I live in the tropics, and I can’t even fathom a bear! For us, it’s the quiet in the middle of a hurricane that signals the worst is coming. Such encouragement for keeping a constant conversation with God so we can be in tune to both hear and press in during those red flag moments. I think one of the greatest character qualities to be said of us is to be a man or woman after God’s own heart. I know it’s what I want the tone of my life to reflect. Thank you for this and for joining the Fresh Market Friday Link-up…I’m so glad to share your message!
Crystal, I lived in South FL for 30 years….I know that “lull before a storm”…
Thanks Crystal!