better go get your armor

I have made the drive many many many times. it is my comfort zone now. leave congress street, go down lamar, right on amite, pass the bus station, pass the opportunity center, loop around by poindexter park, right on gallitan, back down capitol. it is like my daily commute. either taking someone to the bus station, going to the OC or many days, just riding around praying for my friends.

yesterday was very different. i came home and patrick and nichole were on the peach house porch. their story is a whole nother blog. patrick had his backpack with all that he has to his name now. he has come all the way out and sadly went right back in, now facing all of those consequenses. he is staying at broomfield, a mens shelter, because of the choices he made. it breaks my heart to see my friend i love so much just desperate.

nichole and i took him to broomfield and along the way - my little route - my comfort zone - the holy spirit did something in me i am still processing. i drove right into the battlefield, one that i am accustomed to fighting, but the war was so heavy. the spiritual warfare was so thick my heart literally felt the weight of the fighting. it wasn't because anyone said anything or there was chaos going on anywhere, it was just the simplicity of the war that is not flesh against flesh, but against the unseen forces of evil.

i had dinner the night before with my family at tico's. when i walked in, i felt the same way there as i did riding through downtown. the battle was the same, it may just look different from the outside. two completely different worlds, but the completely same war.

i have had many times when the kindgom that resides in me encounters the kingdom that resides in others, and it has not always been comfortable, but thankfully jesus has already conquered. when the weight of oppression from darkness hits you, it hits hard. my desire is not to help anyone get to a shelter or feed them or give them clothes, but to see them encounter the reality of who Jesus is and see them walk in freedom of that.

on this little comfort zone car ride, the king quickly reminded me that even when i think i know where i am going and what i am doing, the enemy is always there ready to attack, but because jesus had already defeated death, the battle ground has already been claimed. but we still have to fight.

God is strong and he wants you to stay strong. so take everything the Master has set out for you, well made weapons of the best materials. put them to sue so you will be able to stand up to everything the devil throws your way. this is no afternoon athletic contest that we will walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. this is for keeps, a life or death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angels.