Prowling lion on the loose!

Wild Kingdom… I used to watch that after church on Sundays. I distinctively remember two things: the weakest were the ones eaten, and the watering holes always dried up! Life on the savanna was intense! Those animals knew the weakest were most susceptible to attack, and they would often keep the weak surrounded by the strong. When a watering hole was located, they would remain there until a stronger animal ran them off or it dried up.

There is a scripture in 1 Peter that has always reminded me of life on the savanna.

Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

When watching that show, every time I would see a young zebra or gazelle alone I’d yell at the TV ‘go back to the herd, run!’ if they didn’t, inevitably that little bugger became dinner for the lion! I swear I have felt like I’ve lived on the savanna lately, and I’m that stinking lil’ gazelle! I started recognizing the signs that life on my savanna was getting more difficult. My watering hole was drying up, I was walking around by myself, and I could hear the lion roaring in the distance; he was on the prowl!

I had a couple of choices: I could remain prideful and isolated, pretending like everything was fine, or I could get with the herd until I was stronger. I chose the herd! I asked my sisters in Christ to keep me in prayer; They moved me into the center of the herd, and the stronger ones took guard and prayed for me. Since my watering hole was drying up, I didn’t feel like I had much authority to stand on my own. I allowed my sisters to stand along side me until I could get to the next watering hole.

Like me, many Christian women, at varying degrees of maturity, struggle with depression, fear, pride, anxiety… but no one really talks about it! Instead they allow themselves to be isolated from the herd, and they are picked off one at a time by the devil! I want to break this silence! There is no reason as believers we need to go around pretending we’ve got it all together – Because we DON’T!! We don’t have perfect little lives just because we serve Jesus! All over the Bible it states we will have difficult times! So why are we pretending we’ve got it all together?!?

If you are a believer there are a few things you need to survive life on the savanna:

1. Get in a herd! Get connected with a group of women! Isolation will get you picked off quickly!

2. Stay at the watering hole! Make quiet time and Bible studies a priority. Do not wait until the hole dries up to find another. Continue upstream wading in the water so you are always in the midst of the life-source.

3. Ask for help! Don’t let shame, pride, or insecurities keep you out of the center of the herd when you are in need. One day you will stand guard for someone else, but until then take your post in the center of the herd, watch and learn what the strong do until it’s your turn.

My sisters moved me into the center of the herd, while I stood in my watering hole. I wasn’t ready to stand guard after a few hours in the pool, but I had more authority to fight because my pool was a lot deeper! Ladies! Don’t stay silent because you think that being a woman of God means you’ve got it all together! Open up your mouth and yell for help!

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 5:3