Distractions are all around us. Everyday we are bombarded with them. Whether it be a small external offense, an internal battle, and even something positive, overcoming distractions is something I’ve struggled with quite profoundly in the past two+ years.
In Nov of 2016, my husband and I bought a farm in east Texas. There has been a lot to do around here, building facilities for our animals, learning how to care of animals, and dealing with loss. It has been like playing the game whack-a-mole. Each day we would have to put out fires left and right, constantly trying to figure out which one deserved the top slot on the priority list. Not to mention navigating through snakes, scorpion stings, and black widow spiders. On top of all of this, I’ve spent the majority of the past seven months primarily in bed due to many different health issues. It has been a season of constant struggle, constant distractions.
Looking back on it, I have spent most of this season frustrated, discouraged, and shedding a lot of tears. I found myself questioning our move into the country. Is this really what God wanted us to do? There were many times I felt like giving up. However, the only thing that kept me going was a quiet belief that God gave us this farm and in the end, He will use it for His glory.
You see, my prayer and vision for the farm is that it becomes a place of rest and healing for women. It is a big vision that I will not be able to accomplish without Him; it will take a lot of faith. At one point my husband said to me, “you’ve lost sight of the vision”, and it was true. I had been so overwhelmed by all of the problems, all of the struggles that I had lost sight of the vision for this farm. It isn’t about me, it is about you. It is about providing a place for women to come and find God, to find the rest they need to overcome the struggle and pain that the wounds and scars of abuse can bring. However, I cannot accomplish this while I am distracted. This message was confirmed to me again this week by my Pastor whose words really encouraged me.
A Little More About Distractions
I did a bible study last year from Priscilla Shirer on the armor of God, and IT IS POWERFUL! She goes into great detail of comparing the armor of God to the armor of the Roman soldiers. She describes how the Roman soldiers used their shields to protect them from the flaming arrows of their enemies. They would all gather in a circle together crouch on the ground and lift up their shields over their heads to form a barrier against the literal fiery arrows of their enemies. The purpose of these flaming arrows? To distract, divert, and cause chaos for the soldiers. If successful, the flaming arrows would keep their opponents from advancing against them. Sound familiar?
She goes on to say: “The enemy sends flaming arrows into your life specifically when you are being called to walk in faith. Those arrows are deliberately intended to disable you from doing the only thing that has the power to extinguish them: walking in faith! He knows that if you’ll ever push past the insecurity or doubt or fear that’s burning in your soul, choosing instead to believe the truth of God and walk in accordance with it, you’ll erect a shield of protection that will smother his plans”.
“Faith causes fiery arrows to fizzle. As you move forward, you’ll sense a holy confidence swelling, a bold courage growing, and a hopeful anticipation rising in you – pushing back the obstacles that once overwhelmed you…The enemy knows the power of faith, too. And that’s why he’s working overtime to keep you too busy or too afraid to take the risk. The only way strongholds can be broken in your life is if you push past any “internal fires,” refuse to let them distract you any longer, and get that shield of faith in position”.
Wow, is that powerful or what?
I’ve highlighted a few key passages in Ephesians 6 that talk about the armor of God:
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[b] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[c] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.[d]
Overcoming abuse is a battle. Make no mistake about it. The enemy wants to keep you broken, he likes it when you are ineffective or too insecure to fulfill the call that God has on your life. Even after you leave an abusive situation, the scars, the thought patterns are distractions keeping you from living the life that Christ wants you to live. You were not created to life in constant fear and anxiety. You were created to live in peace and walking in joy.
To overcome abuse, you will need to take small steps of faith. It can be as simple as making a decision to nurture yourself today, to forgive yourself or to not listen to the lies that have been spoken over you, even for a moment. Moment by moment, decision by decision, you can overcome abuse and the enemy knows it. He will try and keep you exactly where you are, but I am here to tell you and myself that it doesn’t have to be like this anymore. There is a call on your life, a hidden dream deep down inside of you. Don’t allow the enemy to steal from you any longer. You can have a great life, you can fulfill the dream, you can overcome the fear, the insecurity, the scars of the past. Your past no longer needs to dictate your future.
“For though has not given me a spirit of fear(timidity), but of power, love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
So submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Proverbs 4:25
The enemy isn’t happy; we have purchased and taken over this land so it can be a place of ministry for me and he has pulled out all the stops to keep me from doing this. So today, I am publicly declaring the vision. I want to create a place where women can come for Christ-centered horse therapy, prayer, healing, and teaching. I want to help you overcome abuse and walk in victory. I want women to come for 1:1 time with God and have weekend retreats for intensives. I want women to leave here different than they came and this can only be done by bringing you to the feet of the One who heals, restores, and redeems. God is no respecter of persons and what He has done for me, He can do for you too. So here we go!
Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.
Habakuk 2:2
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20
Out of the Grave 
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