I've got a great interest in The Eagle. It is the most majestic bird in the sky. I find it so interesting that like so many other things in my life that God has used to inspire and uplift me, He also has used the Eagle. The Eagle and its way of life can be symbolic to a Christian's life. There is so much we can learn from the life of an eagle, which is why I believe God mentions eagles in His Word.
The one Scripture that we are most familiar with is found in Isaiah 40:31: "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint".
I used to think that to "wait upon the Lord" meant for us to not do anything but wait, when actually "to wait upon" the Lord means "to be of service to" the Lord. If we continue to do all that we know to do, even during our time of storms, God will renew strength to us so that we can mount up, or rise above any storm that blows through. Those that "wait upon" the Lord, to make conscience of their duty to him, by faith rely upon him, and committing themselves to his guidance, shall find that God will not fail them.
Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. It does not swoop, or make sudden plunges downward. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.
When the storms of life come upon us - and all of us will experience them - we must not act abruptly, but we should continue our service unto God, letting Him take care of the situation and allow Him to renew our strength. We can rise above the storms by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us or cause us to swoop downwards. We can allow God's power to lift us above them. God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm.
Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.
===========================================================
DON'T LOSE HOPE
Even though Eagles are known to "rise above the storms", they too will experience a time of "molting". Just like with us, I believe that everyone will go through their own personal wilderness - "a molting stage" which may lead to a state of depression for some. But don't lose HOPE during this time, for GOD is even nearer to those in the valley.
It was very interesting to learn that an eagle has a "wilderness" time as we do - a time of molting. The similarity was incredible when I spiritualized it and it changed me. It strengthened me. It helped me now to be able to overcome many things in my life that I used to struggle with.
-During the 'molting' time, eagles lose their feathers just as we are "exposed" to the devil during our hurts or times when we may take offense, exposing our wounds to the possibility of anger, resentment, unforgiveness or bitterness entering the heart.
-Eagles 'molting' at the same time begin pecking at each other, some killing others, just as we tend to do during our trial time. We begin to strike out at those hurting us and at others. It's a vicious cycle of hurting people HURTING people. And this sometimes results in the killing of some spiritually.
-Eagles lose their desire to eat and have no strength to hunt their food anyway plus they lose their vision just as we tend to do during our wilderness. We stop turning to the Word, and lose sight of what God wants for our life.
-Calcium builds up on the Eagles beaks and they are unable to hold their beak up, which is so traumatic, to the proud majestic birds that Eagles truly are. During our wilderness time, it can get very hard for us to hold our heads up. We tend to get our eyes off the Lord and begin looking more at "our wilderness time" and start to lose faith.
-Some Eagles are not content to just lie there and die but will do something to benefit itself. While it is in this state of molting, some will choose a spot were the sun can shine directly on them. Experts say, they find a ROCK and will lie on it as they bathe in the presence of the sun and it is here they begin to get renewed. During our wilderness time, we canNOT allow ourselves to be overcome with unbelief, but we must turn towards the "Son of righteousness" and stay firm upon the ROCK, basking in His presence, that our strength may be renewed.
-During this time, hope is brought to the "molting eagles" when they hear older eagles that have survived this experience and know what the "molting" eagles are going through, flying above screaming loudly. The screams bring encouragement, for they know that these "encouragers" are about to drop meat to them for them to live on. As with us, God will send us "encouragers" during this time, feeding us with His Word, bringing us hope that God brings renewal to the faint at heart.
When God showed me all of this, He not only promised me that during my wilderness time that He would provide encouragers for me, but it was then that He revealed to me that I AM AN EAGLE. I AM AN EAGLE CAPABLE OF SOARING ABOVE. I AM THE EAGLE WHO IS THE ENCOURAGER. AND I AM THE EAGLE WHO BRINGS HOPE TO THOSE WHO NEED RENEWAL. AND SO ARE ALL OF YOU!
I encourage all of you reading this today that when you find "a wilderness time" approaching, be aware that you will become exposed to the devil, but that you must find a place to lay in the direct presence of the "SON OF RIGHTEOUSNESS". Lay upon that ROCK. Bask in His presence, and He will send you ENCOURAGERS who will be there to help nurture you back to great spiritual health and renewal so that you once again can RISE ABOVE any approaching storm.
==========================================================
KNOW WHO YOUR ENEMY IS
THE EAGLE, being the most majestic bird in the sky, very swift during flight and having phenomenal vision, must still be on the lookout for CONDORS, a type of vulture, I think. We all have enemies, don't we? Well, the Condor hates the eagle. So wherever an eagle flies he must be on the look out for his enemy.
IN BATTLE, the condor will try to claw the eagle, but they say that the eagle doesn't stay around and fight but instead he mounts up and begins to fly. He doesn't fly to the left or to the right but instead, the eagle flies directly toward the sun. The eagle can withstand the bright rays from the sun. The condor tries to catch the eagle but soon he is blinded by the sun and has to turn away and fall off. When the eagle flies towards the bright light, the condor has no choice but to back off. The exposure is too much for it.
When the enemy is at your heels you do not have to stay and fight. All you have to do is turn your eyes toward the Son of Righteousness who will never fail nor forsake you. Keep in mind though that we do not fight against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)
KNOW WHO YOUR ENEMY IS. It's not the person...it's the bad spirit behind their action or bad behavior towards you. We have many people who come against us. We have people who have hurt us. We have those who seem to continually try and trample our faith. But we must do our best to keep the person separate from their action/behavior. Keeping this in mind, we don't have to swoop and plunge downwards in the ways that they fight. We can MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES and RISE ABOVE their ways, their words, their attacks, by turning to the SON OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, turning to His Word, the Sword of the Spirit. For the enemy hates the LIGHT that exposes his evil ways.
So when the enemy attacks, remember...
KNOW WHO YOUR ENEMY IS! DON'T SWOOP BUT RISE ABOVE! FLY TOWARDS THE SON AND SOAR WITH THE EAGLES.
===========================================================
IN LOW TIMES...FLY TO A HIGH SPOT AND SET YOUR WINGS. BE READY TO BE PICKED UP AND LIFTED ABOVE THE WINDS. RISE ON THE WINDS THAT BRING THE STORM. USE THE STORM TO LIFT YOU HIGHER. SOAR WITH THE EAGLES!
YOU'LL ALWAYS STAY IN GOOD SHAPE SPIRITUALLY IF YOU...
(S)et Your Wings - staying ready to be picked up and lifted above any storm
(H)ope in God - He knows what He's doing
(A)pply God's Word to your life
(P)ractice Forgiveness - True forgiveness includes restoration
(E)ncourage Others
==========================================================
No comments:
Post a Comment