ROAR

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

I hear the crackle of dry grass under foot.  It is nearby.  Looking up I see him.  He foams at the mouth from the  heat of the desert and dehydration.  The foam is matted in his fur with dirt and grass. His mane, the pride of the lion, is knotted and gapped from battles. He hides in the shadows. A mortal Wound to the head still oozes with blood.  At one time he was a creation to be admired, the envy of the earth.  An ingrate, the first of the world.  His current  position is derived from fear, from his own fear.  Fear, that if he was not the most high then he would have nothing.  Ingrate. Though mortally wounded he roams; a  pitiful beast.

I feel my Father’s presence behind me, his breath on my shoulder. “Steady, my child, stead; use the first arrow I have given to you”

I pull the first arrow from my quiver, its points are sharper than a two-edged sword, and on the shaft is written, “The Lord is my light and my Salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Defence of my life; Whom shall I dread?”

Notch of the arrow onto the  twine, wire holding the head rests on my grip and forefinger.

“Steady whispers my Father, be courageous.”  His bow and arrow ready to protect me should I miss the mark.

“Swoosh,… shoooopoom”

The Lion roars in pain, turns and faces me.  The wild rhythm in my chest now deafen my ears.

He charges and lunges toward me.  The world disappears and all I can see is the wildanimal about to devour me. I cannot release my breath.  Terror of the beast takes me so completely that I forget my Father is with me.

The lionstops in his track so quickly that dead grass and mud splatter in all directions.

His spell over me has broken, I see the trees again, the sky, my breath returns;  my Father has stepped in front of me.  The lion knows him well.  The lion turns and runs.

My Father is the one who gave him the mortal wound.  I am safe.

My Father reaches into his quiver and gives me another arrow this one too says, “The Lord is my light and my Salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Defence of my life; Whom shall I dread?”

My arms wrap around my Father’s waist…”I love you”.

I hear the lion deeper in the bush, seeking someone else to devour.

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Diane W. Bailey

Diane W. Bailey is the founder of The Consilium – an online community of wisdom and purpose for women over 45 years of age. She is a published author. Her books include String of Pearls – From Tears to Treasure, and 30 Days To A Better Stepfamily. She creates her own line of precious metals bracelets. Diane lives in the Deep South with her husband Doc. Together they have created a stepfamily, each having two stepchildren and two birth children, and share three grandchildren, one black lab named Charlie and one long haired tabby cat named Lil Girl. Diane’s passion is to encourage women to be all God has created them to be by pressing past fear and daring to live life as an adventure. Some of her life adventures include traveling to Israel, speaking, entrepreneurship and backyard farming with Doc. She loves Gumbo, fried shrimp and seeing all sunsets across water.

Latest posts by Diane W. Bailey (see all)

• What God Can Do with A Shattered Heart - September 5, 2022
• When It Is Time to Bring Your Ship Ashore - January 2, 2018
• Art Of Hospitality – How to Love Others As Ourselves - November 27, 2017

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