Fightin' (with) Words

I'm a fighter. I don't mean scrapping in the back alley kind of fighter, but a heart led, for the greater good kind of fighter. This is particularly true in my relationships. I don't let go easily, loyalty and honesty are core values and I will always want the best for those I love.

It's this love that keeps me honest. I would rather risk someone being upset with me than to go against what I feel the Lord has laid on my heart. It goes without saying that this can be very difficult. I think of the reasons why it's worth it and sometimes the only  (but ultimate) reason I maintain this openness is because, in the end, I answer to no one but my God. I also don't want my children to see me compromise. I want them to know that the Christian journey is filled with difficulties but that God is with us through each one.

Recently I had to have one of these very difficult conversations with someone that I love dearly. She is someone I have always been extremely close with and I felt led to have a conversation with her that I knew would be risking our relationship. I had prayed for wisdom prior to seeing her but that didn't make things any easier. The decisions she has been making are far from what the Lord expects from us. She is a person who has a huge place in my heart and my life. It's not about who doesn't want who to be happy. Happiness is fleeting but the joy of the Lord is forever. We miss out on this joy and so many blessings when we live outside of God's statutes.

In the end it was not a very productive conversation because she has clearly made up her mind and has settled on accepting lies instead of dealing with the hard truth. When it was all said and done, I knew our relationship would continue to be one of distance and silence. It has been so painful to go from talking with her daily to once every few weeks...and the conversations are very superficial. Nothing is like it was.

Still, I feel this desperate need to fight for her, to fight for her heart. I believe she knows the Lord but that she has been blinded by other things. She used to have such a servant's heart and a gentle and fun loving spirit about her. That is gone.

It's evident she does not want to face the truth. I'm struggling to deal with this. My heart aches. How do I fight for someone who doesn't want to be fought for? Do I just hand her over to darkness and hope for the best? Some people would say yes to avoid further conflict but the pain and problems remain.

I was searching the other day for answers to these questions. It was that evening when a couple of people sent me text messages actually inquiring about the status of the situation. They had been and would continue praying. My heart overflowed knowing that others were continuing with me in this fight. Then, I read this verse...

The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

The face to face confrontations are over, but fighting this battle with my words is not. That verse has reminded me that in this situation,  and so many others, we have the power of fightin' words. Our prayers are powerful weapons when directed to the Almighty. He moves and intercedes in ways that we cannot even begin to imagine. We need only to get out of the way and be still.

What a blessed thought to know that no matter what, He is fighting for me, for those I care about and for the situations that are beyond my control. I need only to pray and be still.

via

Linking up with Mommy Momments