Let’s Be Terrifying

Best "battle" picture I could find, but I love this book/movie
and also Peter is my favorite.

(From the newsletter that we put out bi-weekly for the staff)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” 

  Every morning we open our eyes in a battle. Every night we fall asleep in the midst of war.

 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

We are against a clever and cunning foe, and yet live in the midst of situations that are trying and wear us down. They make us dull, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Camp is such a hard battle because it can be a battle against flesh and blood (our own weakness), along with spirituality.  One of the biggest assets for the enemy is convincing us that there is no battle. Then there is no reason for us to be on our guard. So maybe he attacks you subtly, maybe you aren’t struggling with energy or patience. That is a ploy. You grow dependent on yourself. That happened so many summers for me. When I started being overwhelmed, then I sunk deeper into God. So the enemy keeps coming, and attacking in new ways.

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

We’ve all seen movies about war, heard stories. Battles are fought, and when the end comes, the victors are the ones still standing. They are not clean, or energized, they are weary, they are bloody, they are bruised. But they are standing. We don’t win battles by standing back and watching the fray, we win them by charging in. 

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

This is our armor. This is how we win. If we go into battle without it, we die. Every night as you go to sleep, sleep in battle mode. With your armor on, sword at the ready. When you wake up in the morning, attack the day. Every day of your life, you fight for your soul, but when you come to camp, you take up the sword for more. You fight not just for yourself, but for the campers, the staff, and the families that are impacted by our calling, when you wake up weary, when you struggle to put a smile on, when kids are driving you crazy, when your body is weak and you begin thinking fainting would be a good thing because it means you could lie down, in those moments you are being attacked, mercilessly.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”  (-Ephesians 6: 10-18)

So look up from this paper and look at your co-counselor. Look at the kids in your cabin and don’t see their shells. Look, and ask God to let you see the soul, the life that Satan is trying to steal. Step into your boots, pull on your helmet, tighten your belt, surround yourself in the shield of faith and pick up your sword. Then run, head-on into the battle, fight till you see the demons turn-tail and run. Then fight some more. Remember that without the armor, without God, without the Spirit, no matter what intentions you may have, you are dead, and one less person fighting for your campers. So abide in Christ, live and breathe in the armor of God. Be encouraged and praise God for attacks, because it means we are in the battle, it means that we are growing into something to fear.