Snakes, Screams, and Scary Things at Night

It pierced the quiet night air … her scream. She called for me, her warrior, to come rescue her. I ran from the other side of the house; and upon entering the bedroom, I found her standing on the bed pointing to the corner of the room where a monstrous snake was coiled ready to strike. Fangs appearing. Blood dripping. And eyes that glowed evil red.

Okay, maybe it was a small 3-foot black snake that was hiding from her as much as she was trying to get away from it. But this is my adventure, let me tell it my way.

I put on my armor (cowboy boots), got my weapon (a shovel), and killed the monstrous beast. It was a scene that rivals that of Harry saving Ginny from the basilisk. I stood victorious, and then swept the fair lady into my arms receiving the praise and kisses I was due. Her hero had won the day like a scene from a movie.

Yeah, not exactly. I then cleaned the mess up and looked for any family members. My wife eventually calmed down and life returned to normal. Such is life in the country … snakes, skunks, deer, and even once saw a bear.

Fears can paralyze us. They can cause screams, shivers, and more. Yesterday, I shared the power of dangerous prayers and having God search us. And when we are honest and open before Him, our deepest fears will be revealed. We will see where our trust in Him comes up short. We cling to phobias and anxieties because of a number of reasons … but the biggest is because we don’t have a clear enough vision of how BIG our GOD really is.

For when we see the fears as too big, we make our view of God too small. This trap, this snare can be overcome when we grasp the glory, the greatness, the grandeur of God and His power, presence, provision, and plans.

Esther fasted for three days. She dressed in royal attire. She walked into Thee throne room uninvited. She stood, when protocol demands bowing. This was courage. For with a simple wave of his hand, Xerxes could’ve had her killed for such audacity. But she believed she was here for ‘such a time as this’.

She knew it could’ve meant death. She knew a failure could’ve led to disaster for her and millions of her fellow Jews. But she also knew her God was bigger than all of this. Such courage. Such boldness. Such bravado.

I want that. I want courage to defy odds, stand boldly, and take chances for God.

And Esther gave us some insight to how to get this courage. First, spend time with God. She prayed and fasted. She devoted herself to talking with God and seeking wisdom, direction, and insight … and I believe more than that, I believe she sought God himself.

Second, she didn’t do this alone. True, it was her standing there, no one else. But she called on her people, her fellow children of God to pray for her and for this very moment. It’s so much easier to face snakes and dragons and fears when you know you’ve got a posse.

And third, she had a BiG view of GOD … knowing He could handle this. No issue is too big for Him.

What about you? What fears do you have? Where is your view of God too small?

• Spend time with God
• Get support from your family of faith
• Grasp the greatness of who God really is

Your fear may not be to stand before the ruler of the world and face potential death, but even if it is … God is bigger. So dream big. Act with courage. God is bigger.

And that makes this adventure called life all the more exciting. Today, be courageous. Know that God is BIG. Bigger than any dragon.