Never Say Retreat! Kill that Little Guy and Advance
Move forward and I will cause the sun to shine throughout the night so that you will have victory. Move forward and I will have all the fish swim to one spot so that you can go home with a load of fish bigger than the usual whole night’s catch. Move forward and I will heal your eyes. Move forward and I will make you to walk again. Move forward and I will give life to your womb where there has never been that possibility. Move forward and I will show you how I can provide, even by the means of a child’s sack lunch. Move forward and I will….because I Am. Never say retreat…at least not around the Lord.
For the last week all I have been writing about is the Church. And still today, here is another topic that the Lord has given me to narrate, or should I say expose, regarding His Church. I’m not even comfortable with this calling yet. I have almost no confidence in my writing gifts, and I’m just a little…okay more than a little…upset that the Lord is taking advantage of my latest commitment to Him (in obedience to write whatever He puts in my heart and mind), by giving me these Jeremiah type topics. I don’t want to be all gloom and doom. I certainly don’t desire to be known as the grouchy writer who always has something negative to say about the Church. But, I promised obedience. Okay Lord, let’s have it…what is wrong with the Church regarding “retreat”?
First of all let’s make sure we are not talking about “retreat” as in the weekend kind. Many churches are involved with “discipleship”, “layman”, “rebuilding”, and just “get a grip on myself” type retreats. They organize weekend get-a-ways or other more lengthy times when a person, couple, or group can spend some moments outside of their normal surroundings and study the Word of God in an attempt to clarify the Will of God in perspective to a particular topic. Such trips are amazing. In fact, I would rather be doing that again right now instead of typing out these words that keep coming to mind about the error-of-the-ways of a retreating people. But, my last retreat led to my renewed commitment in obedience, so more than likely, I would end up right back here again…at the typewriter (oh sorry, we call them keyboards now).
So then, we are talking about the mindset of a people who would rather retreat than move forward. They may say that they have the desire to move forward…and they probably do…but, is their faith set to the task? I have heard so many phrase replacements for the word “retreat”. Some are more political…“Let’s think and consider and then build a plan”. Some are more mother like…“Let’s be careful and make sure we know we have everything we need”. Some are more childish…“Let’s not do this challenging homework; lots of other things are more fun”. Some are more fear driven…“Hey, don’t forget what happened the last time we tried something like this.” And then some are more… just… well…instinctive…; “Rrrruuuunn, run for your lives”. However, they all get across the same meaning. Retreat; we don’t have what it takes and are afraid…kind of backing-down. And as long as the retreat bugles can echo in our ears, our hearts tremble and crumble in fear.
Did you know that it has been recorded in early battles that the leading officer would have the bugler/drummer/fifer sound the notes of “charge” and then have the poor little thing killed because he, the leader, didn’t want there to be any chance of a “retreat” being sounded? After consideration of the concept, there is something to be said about the strength at which we fight when we do not constantly consider “retreat” as an option. I wonder how this same resolve would affect us in our daily lives as Christian warriors. I’m pretty sure that we would stop…lay our hands on, and pray for others instead of just adding them to a prayer list. We would speak up to offer Christ as the solution to society’s problems, instead of the “live and let live” nonsense we hear so much about from those around us. We would charge in and rescue the wounded. We would carry the dying…taking their last breath spiritually…on our backs. We would stop complaining about programs…and join. We would stop looking to others… and participate. We would…well, stand and fight. Okay, you can see countless ways that this would make things different in the church. And, only you can describe how this “no possibility of retreat” might play-out in your own Christian walk.
So you are afraid. Well, that’s okay. God is familiar with us being in fear. “I am here” and “fear not” are some of His favorite words. He is also familiar with us being on the run, making a mad exit, and whining with excuses. Look at Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Joshua, and on and on…all were eventual non-retreaters who cried out in fear at some point. And then there were the women…Deborah, Esther, Ruth, Rehab, and on and on….all also non-retreaters who knew something of fear. I grew up on these stories of characters in the Bible…real people who refused to turn back. And, I am still amazed at their inspiring beauty. The message is simple…With God all things are possible.
Teach Sunday school when you’re not a teacher? Serve on a committee when you have just started attending the church? Sing in the choir when the only thing about you that can keep a beat is the rhythm of your own heart? If you have a strange and “out-of-the-box” type idea birthing in your mind, and you have been in prayer with the Lord, well…you can count on that strangeness being straight from Him. If you need more evidence watch what is happening around you. Are things and people and situations sort of parting like the Red Sea and opening to the possibility of this new strange idea? If you need more proof, pray again…if you dare. The Lord does not mind encouraging us. He has a plan. We call it “out-of-the-box” or “strange”. God just says, “I am the Lord, My ways are not your ways.”
So, are you struggling with an assignment that God has given you?
Does it seem just way too far out there?
Are you afraid of what kind of battle this may turn out to be?
Well just Advance! Advance! Advance!
Before your mind has a chance to scream out a reversal call to retreat…
Kill that doubting little bugler as soon as he sounds the call of “charge”…and Advance!
Keep your eyes on the Leading Warrior.
Put on the Full Armor of the Lord.
Cling to His Righteousness and Strength.
and never…
never say Retreat.
In obedience
Rhonda D Loucks
So you are afraid. Well, that’s okay. God is familiar with us being in fear. “I am here” and “fear not” are some of His favorite words. He is also familiar with us being on the run, making a mad exit, and whining with excuses. Look at Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Joshua, and on and on…all were eventual non-retreaters who cried out in fear at some point. And then there were the women…Deborah, Esther, Ruth, Rehab, and on and on….all also non-retreaters who knew something of fear. I grew up on these stories of characters in the Bible…real people who refused to turn back. And, I am still amazed at their inspiring beauty. The message is simple…With God all things are possible.
A calling to write what He leads, no matter how uncomfortable...
Because simple daily Christian living is never what we thought it would be
Never Say Retreat! Kill that Little Guy and Advance
What can you expect? Straight talk, laughable humor, real truth, simple living, and passionate yearning...
all regarding the God that still involves Himself in the details of the lives of His people