The Alligator Poker

We went on a family adventure yesterday, in light of the holiday, to the The Alligator Farm in St. Augustine. Chad and I had never been and we knew that the boys would love it. It took us forever to get out of the house that morning and I am pretty sure why. I know that God orders our steps. We arrived just a few minutes before the the 12 o'clock feeding for the big gators right in the middle of this whole reptile invested place (chill up my spine:-) Anyway, how it all begun was this young lady, one of the trainers, steps into the "pit" with about 30 to 40 of these enormous creatures. Talk about courage. When she enters she is carrying two things: 1. A bin filled with some delicious dead rats and 2. A stick, about as long as a sword. She starts to talk facts and tell us what she is about to do, all the while keeping watch on all sides just in case one of the gators decides to get a little to friendly, if you know what I'm saying. As suspected, a few of them would start making their way closer and closer until she took this stick, weapon for all intensive purposes, and put it right on their nose and would say, " That's close enough, why don't you just stay right there." Then she would continue talking as she made sure she had plenty of room to maneuver throughout their lair.

I woke up with this picture of events in my head this morning, as it totally relates to what God is walking me through right now. Let's pretend right now that I'm the trainer, with my weapon in hand, the "pit" represents my issues of fear and doubt and the gators, well they are indeed my enemy. I can see myself in the spirit in this pit of fear and doubt, surrounded on all sides by my enemy and me standing there with my sword, the Word of God, my only weapon. I visualize myself taking that sword and placing it on the enemies nose and saying, " That's close enough, why don't you just stay right there".  John 10:10, " The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy..." Those gators/enemies are not approaching to give us a big hug and a kiss! They are approaching  to steal, to kill and to destroy because that's all they know to do. The second half of that verse goes on to say, " I (Jesus) have come that you may have life, and that you may have it more abundantly."

One more scripture and I promise I will get to the point of all of the rambling! Ephesians 6:14-17, " Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ABOVE ALL, taking the shield of FAITH with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD." 

So my point, as promised, that trainer stayed safe because she knew how to use that sword and just what to say to her creepy little friends. I am learning everyday how to wield my weapon, my sword, the Word of God. If my enemy gets to close, I will put that sword into action and tell him, " That's close enough, you stay right there. " In other words, don't come any closer because I will not allow you to steal, kill or destroy me. I am hiding God's Word in my heart so that I will always have the equipment that I need to fight off the enemies of fear and doubt. The journey continues...