Sleep with your boots on

"For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12 NLT

After reading my dear friend Jamie's Facebook post about losing her friend Tyler to a drug overdose, a young man two weeks shy of his 28th birthday who Jamie described as being "special" and "like a little brother to her," my heart not only ached for her and for the family he left behind but my spirit was exceedingly grieved and outraged at this senseless death—a feeling that was shared by Jason Sheffield, another one of Tyler's friends, who wrote, "We have lost so many brothers and sisters to the adversary. These losses break my heart and rend my soul to the core. These losses also stir something savagely holy in me! These deaths stoke a holy inferno of fervency and urgency to make our Savior and Redeemer known to every single person I come into contact with! Brothers and sisters in the faith, join with me in assaulting the enemy’s kingdom and his plans to steal, kill and destroy us by sending a barrage of prayer artillery at the devil and his camp!! We are front line soldiers in Christ’s army!! Let’s sleep with our boots on and ALWAYS stay ready to do battle!!" 

And you know, you and I are indeed front line soldiers in Christ's army. But we aren't fighting against an enemy we can see "but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." And you can be sure this is not a battle for the weak or the faint of heart but a battle for those who are willing to drop to their knees and fight the enemy in prayer. Which is the very reason that, as Jamie and I later discussed, we would all do well to pray "break my heart for what breaks your's Lord" each and every day. You see, it's only when you and I love others the way our precious Savior does, when our hearts are completely broken and our souls are rended to the core for them, that we can develop the "holy inferno of fervency and urgency" needed to pray as we should and fight the battle against our adversary the devil with all our might. 

So ask the Lord to break your heart for what breaks His my friend, and to give you an urgent, compelling, and pressing desire to make our Savior and Redeemer known to every single person you come into contact with. And then, like a good soldier, stand strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Sleep with your boots on and ALWAYS stay ready to do battle! 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we are in an all-out war each and every day with the devil who is out to devour us. Lord break our hearts at the thought of this. Strengthen our resolve and determination to share the Good News wherever you call us to Lord without fear, without restraint and without pausing for even one moment. Lord remind us that our time is short, that You are coming back, and that we must continue working to lead the lost to You right up until the time we hear that trumpet sound. Wake us up Lord. Wake us up! It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!