The Banner

"That was a great movie!" Braedon said as he turned off the TV. "But the way people fought wars long ago sure was different than now."Colton nodded. "When that whole troop of knights on horses came charging down the hill, it threw the enemy into total chaos!" "Yeah, but there's something I don't get. Why did that king ride out in front waving a big flag?" asked Braedon. "It's almost as if he were wearing a sign that said, 'Hit me!'""Actually, it was a banner--a rallying point for the king's troops," explained Dad, who had watched the movie with the boys. "Seeing that their leader was with them, fighting the enemy, gave the whole army courage in the face of attack." "So instead of making the king a target for the enemy, the banner was more like an 'I am with you!' sign for the troops?" asked Colton."Right," said Dad. "Just this week I needed that kind of encouragement myself--and do you know where I got it? From the Bible.""You did?" asked Colton.Dad nodded. "I was totally overwhelmed with the work I had to do this week," he explained. "Then I read about the victory God gave Israel over the Amalekites. Afterward, Moses built an altar to God and named it 'The Lord Is My Banner.' So in my mind, I imagined God leading me like a banner, giving me encouragement and strength for what I had to do." "Did it work?" asked Braedon. "Did it make the tough stuff disappear?" "It didn't make everything easy," said Dad. "I still had to work long hours, but God gave me the energy I needed." He smiled. "When I focused on God's promises, it was like He was waving a banner, reminding me that He was with me. I remembered that Jesus defeated sin and death on the cross so that I could have a relationship with Him forever, and that means I never have to face anything alone. I can always trust Him to help me and give me strength. God didn't make the battle go away, but He promised to be with me through it." "Wow," said Braedon. "The next time I face something hard--like exams or teasing--I'll remember that Jesus is my banner too!" –Lore Wolif