Remember the medievel movies that show valiant knights on regal horses, riding into battle, with one appointed warrior carrying the troop's flag? That flag identified the kingdom. It represented the people, their authority, and their purpose. While we no longer travel on horses, we still carry a banner. If we bear the one God gives us, then we are identified as His, surrendered to His will and purpose for our lives. But, even for those of us who love and serve Him, we can sometimes lay down His flag and wave our own. I see it in my spirit..... We sketch and draw and paint our own designs and colors, personalizing our own flags to represent our own agendas. It's a pride flag, fashioned out of the fears, insecurities, and selfish motives that drive us to want to forge ahead our own way. Because we create them ourselves, these puny little flags do not identify us with the King or His authority and protection. We are a troop of one.
God has a white flag for us. Waving a white flag in the midst of battle typically means defeat. It symbolizes that the troops are no longer posting their own colors, but a neutral color as a sign of defeat. However, when we wave the white flag in surrender to pain, pride, fear, rejection, and sin, this is a spiritual victory. We win spiritual battles when we let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts (Col. 3:15). White represents purity. The purity that comes from heaven is peaceful. Who wants to fight when we can enjoy peace and rest? Further, the white flag of victory connects us with a larger body. I wonder how it makes God feel to look upon His creation and instead of a hodge podge of abstract colors and designs, see white flags of beauty and peace gently waving in unity and love.
Usually we know what God wants us to do, we just don't do it. We continue to bear our own flag, while He patiently waits, arm extended, white flag in hand, ready to share victory and peace to our weary hearts and lives. Join me, my darlings, in surrender. In doing so, we exchange one authority for another. Ours for his. Struggle for rest. War for peace. Anger for forgiveness. Hate for love. This kind of surrender is a powerful act of spiritual warfare. It takes courage. It takes trust. It takes strength.
But, enjoying the benefits of peace and fulfillment
make it worth it.
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure: then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full or mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." James 3:17-18
"They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy." Rev. 3:4
"All who are victorious are clothed in white." Rev. 3:5
