Higher ground…

I listened to the songs of Lauren Daigle today while I cleaned–something I do often–and heard her sing these words about the Lord,

“You’re not threatened by the war.  You’re not shaken by the storm.”

Reflecting on this truth I was reminded of a dream I had sixteen years ago. A dream so powerful, I felt moved to write it in my journal the next morning.

The dream began in a swimming pool where I and many others were having a wonderful time.  All of this changed when demons rushed in and began pulling people under the water to their deaths.

Then entered the scariest one of all.  It was the devil himself.  He looked at the death, fear and destruction and he smiled and laughed with delight.

Terrified, I jumped out of the pool then reached down and scooped a baby up out of the water.  Holding the baby close to me I ran.

The devil looked at me and laughed.  He told me to go ahead and run.  He said he would get me when he was finished with the others.  He knew where I’d be.  I couldn’t hide from him.

I ran through streets and ally ways but every time I looked back over my shoulder he was there, coming toward me.

Running into a tiny room, I slammed the door and while looking for something to barricade it with, I noticed there was a man sitting in the room with me. He was a well dressed man who brought with him a feeling of peace and calm.

I recognized him as a prophet of God. He had a very pleasant smile on his face and wasn’t worried at all even though the devil was headed toward our door.

He told me I didn’t need to barricade the door.  He told me to look at the door and pray mightily in the name of the Savior that it would not open.

The door began to shake and I began to pray.  Angered by my prayer, the devil tried with all of his might to open the door.

Smoke and light beams came through the door as it came off of its hinges and pushed forward into the room.  I prayed harder and the door pushed back into place.  This went on and on.

All the while I looked to the prophet who would encourage me with his calm smile.  He was never afraid.

Finally the door shut completely for the last time.  I felt a sense of peace as the prophet touched my shoulder and, giving me one last smile, he was lifted up, disappearing inside of a very bright star.

I knew then that the battle was over.

This dream has always been a reminder to me–just as Lauren Daigle’s song was today–that neither God nor his disciples are threatened by the war or shaken by the storm.

I need never fear. But I must be mindful each day to get out of the water (the distractions and deceptions of this world) and come unto Him, the author of peace, my Savior Jesus Christ.