I saw something yesterday I had never seen before. I saw a huge black raven chasing and attacking a grey squirrel. It would try to seize the squirrel in its talons and lift it off the ground as it swooped by. A couple of times, it barely caught the squirrel, and lifted it up for a few feet before the squirrel broke away and scrambled for safety. This happened several times. The squirrel was frantic in its attempts to escape while the raven was equally obsessed with attaining its prey. Once the squirrel gained sanctuary in a pine tree, the chase was over as the raven could not maneuver around the tree as fast as the squirrel could.
I sensed there was another application of this dramatic scene and it involves our position as believers. Where do we stand in relation to our Lord?
Are we hanging onto Jesus, every day coming into His presence and worshipping Him, and depending on Him to help us through the intricacies of life? Or, have we become so arrogant that we often venture out under our own power and autonomy because we think we should be able to handle it without bothering the Lord? Or, maybe we have grown lazy about our relationship to Jesus because everything seems to be going along fine?
The truth is that we can do no good thing without His help! We are only fully protected when we are walking in the will of God. When we think we are spiritual enough to venture out on our own and God will back us up, we have become presumptuous. When we think we can live like the world and come back to Jesus once a week and renew our devotion and love for Him, we are deceived.
We must come to know that our lives, our prosperity and our effectiveness in everything we attempt is wrapped up in our Savior. When we draw close, and stay close we have tapped into the very source of life itself. Jesus told us He was the vine, we are the branches. A branch not attached to the vine will wither and die.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
That squirrel knew if he could reach a tree, he would be safe. If we can reach Jesus, we will be safe from the enemy who prowls about looking for whom he may devour. Make no mistake about it, our enemy is out to devour and destroy all he can. Everything we value is at stake, especially the most important things like our souls, our lives and our loved ones. There is no tactic or device the enemy will not use to take us down or thwart the divine purposes of God in our lives.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
The squirrel could maneuver around that tree faster than the raven could turn and the squirrel was safe in the shadow of the tree. I often seen squirrels attempt many daring deeds away from their source of protection, but they always know where their protection comes from and are quick to sprint for cover when things look scary.
If we will stay close to the source of life and to the one who rescued us, we will be safe and no enemy or agent of the enemy will be able to successfully attack us. Let us stay connected to the Lord and depend on Him for all of our needs, all of our desires and all of our hopes and dreams. After all, He is the very source of life!
Lord, please help us realize that you are our very source and essence of life! Help us to remain close and hang on tightly to you. Help us not to be led astray or lured by anything the world has to offer. Help us to evade the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life! So many of our brothers and sisters are completely bound by these three evils. Help us to keep you as our first love! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
The Warrior Anointing 