I Will Fight For You

Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;

he answers him from his holy heaven

with the saving power of his right hand.

Psalm 20:6

    Eighteen years ago a friend asked me to pray for Denis and Lori, a couple who lived next door to her.  Lori had just given birth to her fourth son and due to complications had almost died.  Almost a year later Pat and I met the two of them at a Friendship Sunday.  We became the closest of friends.  In September Denis left us to be with the Lord. 

     Over the years we shared so many things with Denis and Lori.  We camped, shared meals and laughter.  We have ridden bicycles, gone hiking, and rode horses.  We have built decks, shared holidays, birthdays and anniversaries, searched for temporarily lost children, waited for teens, visited hospital beds, spent many a night discussing Bible passages, gone to movies, weddings, graduations, and ice cream parlors. There was fishing and fireworks, singing and stories.  Denis created treasure hunts for my youngest children who loved to find coins buried in the sand.  Denis always carried a toolbox that had any kind of widget in it that might be needed.  Pat once mentioned that he was going to the hardware store to replace a very specific light bulb and Denis said, “I have one right here.”  Denis had a heart to serve.  Denis and Lori were not just friends, but family.

     Our pastor went to visit Denis when he was diagnosed with lung cancer.  Denis shared with Pastor that he had a dream that he was in a battle that he knew he could not win.  And just as he began to give in to despair he heard the Lord say, “I will fight for you.”

     “I will fight for you.”   Those are the words God spoke to Moses before the parting of the Red Sea.  Moses was reminded of them just before Joshua led the people into the promised land.

     Deuteronomy 1:29-31   Then God said, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”
     The things that were true about God before Denis became ill are still true today.  We are more than conquerors.  Greater is He that is in us.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

     God did fight for Denis.  Every child of God has access to a warrior who has never lost a battle.  He fought for Denis.  He will fight for you, too.  The battle is not ours, it is the Lord’s.  Jesus already won the battle on Calvary’s cross.

     Jesus told us that there is a narrow gate.  Sooner or later all of us must pass through it.  The time may come unexpectedly or, like Denis, we may be be given time to prepare.  That narrow gate will be wide enough for two - You and your Savior.  The One who has led you all through life will not desert you, and where He is, there you will be also.  

Exodus 14: 14

The Lord shall fight for you and you shall be still.

-Donna