Cindy Powell

There is a time to stand.

When the battle over your identity–and destiny–is raging.  When you’ve done everything you know how to do, and prayed every prayer you know how to pray, yet you’re still hard-pressed on every side. When you’ve  pressed in and pressed on to “lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of you,” but everything around you still seems to contradict the promises of God.  

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Eph. 6:13, NIV).

There is a time to sit down.

When the clamoring is  over.  When the striving has ceased. When your identity–and your destiny–is secure. When you know it’s finished.  When you’ve labored to enter into his rest—and won. 

“He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Rev.3:21, NASB).

And finally, there is a time to stand up.

When the battle of the ages is raging.  When you hear  of wars and rumors of wars.  When there is great turmoil on the earth.  When we are hard-pressed on every side.  When hopelessness threatens to prevail.

“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28, NIV).

Only those who have learned to stand amidst opposition–and then sat down in overcoming victory—can truly stand up and be sent as ambassadors of another kingdom …

A kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy.  A kingdom of abounding hope.  A kingdom of unfailing love.  A kingdom that is not overcome by evil, but one that overcomes evil with good.  A kingdom that has no end.

What is your position today?   Whether you are standing, sitting down, or standing up–if you are where you really are–it’s a good place. 

If you are standing–keep standing until you know that you know the battle has been won.  If you are sitting down–keep sitting down until you learn to war from a place of rest.   Then–at just the right moment–he’ll call you to stand up as his ambassador.  An ambassador of another kingdom.  An ambassador that can be sent into the heat of battle with hope that abounds, joy that never fades, peace that endures, resolve that doesn’t falter, and love that never fails. 

You may have noticed we are living in a world that desperately needs to see the reality of another kingdom.  So stand, sit down, or stand up …

Just don’t walk away.