Hey Satan-You’re a loser.

A couple weeks ago I was having a much needed quiet time on my back porch.  Seriously, I love my patio.  We don’t have a huge yard or anything, but when I sit out there, looking over the pool, I can see a line of trees and beautiful blue sky that I absolutely have grown to love.  There are almost always gorgeous birds flying around, and once I even saw a bald eagle fly past our house. 

So, during this recent time outside, I saw something so incredible.  I was sitting there talking to a friend on the phone, when I saw this LARGE bird start circling one of the biggest trees behind our house.  All of the sudden, this TINY little bird comes darting out of the tree and starts going “gangsta” on the big bird.  You should have seen it!  It was quickly made very clear to me that that sweet, tiny little bird had a nest it was trying to protect in that tree. The big bird was relentless.  There were a couple times I almost jumped to my feet because the larger bird was coming SO CLOSE to the nest.  I found myself unable to keep my eyes off this battle, and I just knew any moment I was going to see the little bird, lose hope, give up, or even worse be killed by the large bird of prey.

(not a picture of the actual birds that I witnessed...but you get the idea!)

Okay, so maybe I’m just weird, but the picture of that big ugly bird trying to attack that nest has stuck in my head for weeks.  For some reason I feel like the little bird so many times in my life.  I feel like I have these things in my life, beautiful things, and Satan is just out to destroy them.  I too, like the little bird, have fight in me (anyone that knows me well knows I have more fight than the average lil’ bird). I don’t mind fighting for what I know is right and Godly.  But honestly, sometimes I just get so tired of the battle.  I’m tired of the conflict.  I’m tired of trying so hard to protect something in a nest that bites me in the butt for trying to help.  I’m tired of trying to raise my kids in a world that just seems to be inundated with EVIL everywhere we turn.  I’m tired of watching the news and hearing about little children being abducted and sold into sex slavery.  I’m tired of marriages falling apart and children walking away from God…I can go on and on.  All the while it just feels like Satan is winning!!  Can I get a witness?!

As I sat there watching the birds, I happened to be pouring out my heart to my mentor about recent spiritual attack.  Coincidence?  Maybe.  But, I just can’t help but think God put those birds right in front of me for a reason.  I honestly felt like those birds were God’s way of telling me, “Hey Tirzah, you may feel little, but I have equipped you to fight for me.  I care about what you are fighting for.  I am with you.  You may feel like Satan is winning, but with ME by your side you can withstand ANYTHING!  You just keep on fighting the good fight!!!”

So, I ask you friend, do you ever feel like you are fighting in a war that you have no hope of winning?  Do you feel overwhelmed and discouraged by all that is coming at you?  Do you feel tired of getting bit in the butt by little chics that you are trying to care for?  Do you feel all alone in the battle?

If so, here is a little reminder to F.I.G.H.T. next time you’re head to head in battle:

Fear not, for I am with you…I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you (Is 41:10)

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Rom 8:37)

Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world (1 Jn 4:4)

Hold unswervingly to the HOPE we profess, for He who promised is faithful (Heb 10:23)

Take up the whole armor of God (Eph 6:13)

Aren’t you just dying to know what happened to the little bird?  Well, after what seemed like FOREVER, that big, stupid bird, gave up and the little bird WON!!  Come on people…and there was great rejoicing!!!! 

Keep FIGHTING friends,

Tirzah