I met with an old friend last night, a very good friend.  We laughed a bit, shared stories of our day and enjoyed a cup of coffee together.  Then the conversation turned.  We began discussing some of the deeper issues that were pressing on us, those weights that we had carried through the week; that had brought us upon this evening fatigued, disillusioned and even a bit anxious. 

For me, the issue was anger.  I had experienced significant hurt this past week, wounded by many who were trusted, whom I loved and to whom I felt that I had given my best.  I guess my perception from the wounds was that my best was not really very good and was certainly not wanted; and so, with tail tucked between my legs, I had arrived this evening to be with a friend, carrying more than a little chip on my shoulder.

As we both shared our burdens (that’s Christian talk for ‘bitchin’ about our problems’), something really unique happened.  We began seeing clearly the lies that Satan had been speaking to us all day.  Exposed in the light of our friendship and God’s word, these yokes that had a strangle hold on us just began falling off. 

Paul writes in Ephesians ‘Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.  In your anger do not sin … and do not give the devil a foothold.’(Ephesians 4:25-26).  As we spoke truthfully to each other about our hurts, we could feel those strongholds breaking.  As he introduces Jesus, John writes that ‘The light shines in the darkness’ (John 1:5), and then later, Paul teaches that we are to ‘put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light’ (Romans 13:12).

We did it, it happened and it worked!  Light flooded in.  The enemy and his lies were exposed.

More work is needed. The battle will continue to be fought, but this simple weapon, our armor of light, offered the clarity needed to begin swinging our swords again.

To the King, 

David