my Banner.

amidst the trials.
the strain.
the weariness.
the sifting.
amidst the unknowns.
the waiting.
the silence.
amidst the longings.
the unfulfilled words and dreams.
the "not yets".
and the "soons".
amidst the perseverance.
the patience.
the pressing on.
and pressing in.

there is a banner hung high.
and it covers me.

because the Upholder of my life,
His name is Jehovah Nissi--  [the Lord is my Banner].


and i soak in Exodus 17.
because when all looked like fail.
like loss.
like impossible.
God shattered the doubt, the fear, the dismay.
He promised.
He--- [[promised]].
He promised >>this will not end in defeat<<.and Moses believed.
and God came through.
and the people prevailed.
"And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi"

and i hoist it up high.
never to be lowered. 
because when the Lord is your banner.
victory is always certain.

and right here.
amidst it all.
before full breakthrough is seen.
like Moses,
I build an altar.
an altar of praise.
with my banner lifted high and myself pressed low.
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name" Hewbrews 13:15.

and isn't that just it?
this place where praise actually means sacrifice.
with the weight of it all causing us to bend.
and break.
because that covering, that shell, that self-protecting amniotic sac,
it has to break
for something to be birthed.
for newness to come forth.
for Him to do a new thing.


and so,
as you're bending and breaking.
brought low.
let your praise lift your Banner high.
and "may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" (Romans 15:13).
because our victory is certain.
and He's ushering a new thing forth.
taking our weak, broken, empty places
and birthing life through them.
beautiful, new, abundant life.