My oldest son, Tyrus has one of those imaginations that makes you want to be a kid again. This week, he paired up two old toys and began reenacting the epic battle of all times. No, it wasn’t Batman and the Joker. It wasn’t Bumblebee and MegaTron. It wasn’t Spiderman versus Goblin or Dr. Octopus or Rhino. (If you have boys like me, you probably know these rivalries.)
This was Jesus versus the devil.
I wasn’t so sure at first. Isn’t this a bit heavy for a 5 year old? To be honest, it made me a little uncomfortable. I flinched when I heard him say, “Then the dragon knocked Jesus down.” But, as I often have to do as the mother of 4 boys, I calmed myself, decided to embrace his imagination and boy-ness, and decided it was a wonderful teaching moment.
“Hey kiddo. Tell me. What is Easter all about?”
“Jesus rose from the grave.”
“Do you know what Jesus did when he rose out of that grave? He beat the devil. You can play ‘Jesus vs. the devil’, but you must remember this. Jesus always wins.”
Don’t we all need that reminder? Jesus always win. Always. Join with Jesus and you are on the winning team.
But some days, it doesn’t feel like I’m winning. The battlefield in my mind rages. The world seems to be more and more hostile to Jesus and head towards darkness. Marriages are hurting. Families are falling.
I’m honored to be part of an amazing group of ladies that study the bible and ‘do life’ together. We are battling through some tough stuff these days. Prayer requests for sick family members, broken marriages, death of children, unknown ailments, family disputes. Depression. Pain. Worry. Heartache.
As so often happens, a teaching moment with my children becomes a learning moment for me. Jesus always wins. Remember Danielle? We will have the victory!
I wanted to share this reminder with the ladies I love. I toted my iPod loaded with Michael W. Smith’s version of “Shout Unto God” and every children’s percussion instrument we had to bible study last Friday. We needed to bang some drums, shake some tamborines and celebrate the victory that is already ours. If you are looking for a good war cry of VICTORY in the battle for your {mind, day, marriage, family}, then listen here.
If you ever see me ‘fist pumping’ in my car like a teenager from the Jersey shore, chances are…this song is playing. (And it is likely the ONLY time you will see me ‘fist pumping’.)
When I’m feeling defeated, it does not mean I’m losing. It means my focus is in the wrong place. I’ve forgotten to look down at the logo on the jersey of my heart. I’m on Jesus’s team. Jesus always wins.
“The enemy’s been defeated and death couldn’t hold you down. We’re gonna lift our voice in victory. We’re gonna make your praises loud!”
This embodies my outlook on Easter this year.
Not pastel colors, fluffy bunnies, cute chicks.
Battle. Blood. Victory.
Jesus always wins. And Easter was V-Day.
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