Worshiping Warriors

I tossed and turned for what felt like hours through another hot Costa Rican night. I stared lazily at the pale gray ceiling as I listened to the soft hum of our small electric fan, occasionally blowing a gentle breeze on my face. At this point, I wasn’t sure if checking the time would make me feel discouraged due to how early I had to be up or relieved because I was rather bored and couldn’t wait to get out of our dark hot room. 3:45am was the time that my phone flashed back at me. I sighed, fluffed my pillow again, and closed my eyes as another feeble attempt to fall asleep. Not a second after my head hit my pillow, “Get up and pray.” echoed in my ears louder than our little fan. Knowing God would keep me up anyways if I refused, I decided to get up and spend some time with my dad. Clearly, my spirit needed rest in Him more than my body needed rest in my bed. After some prayer, I went back to bed and fell asleep at 5am. 

An hour later, I found myself stumbling into breakfast, hearing some interesting things as I downed my coffee like a glass of water. I wasn’t the only one who had issues sleeping. It seemed that a majority of our squad either couldn’t sleep, had terrible nightmares, or were spiritually attacked while trying to rest. The beautiful thing is that it would have been easy to brush it off and leave every person to pray about their issues by themselves, but we couldn’t. This is family, and family fights for one another. Where the enemy launched an attack, we waged war. 

That evening Gap Year, 11 in 11, and the leaders of Ocean’s Edge met on base armed and ready. A few people threw the first punch by filling the battlegrounds, our house, with worship.

“ After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord  and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:“Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.”

2 Chronicles 20:21

The rest of us ran vigorously into battle with powerful prayers. We laid hands on every bed, pillow, doorway, nook, and cranie. No stone was left unturned. No devil had anywhere left to hide. 

‘As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” 

2 Chronicles 20:22 

As we gathered together afterward, peace filled the atmosphere. We were victorious, and what a victory it was. I took a step back for a second and soaked in the moment. Every hand and voice was lifted along with the spirits in the room. Smiles broke out across every face. In a sudden moment, I had the realization of what community means on the World Race. 

“42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper]), and to prayer.43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”

Acts 2:42-47                         

To live in community on the World Race is to live like the early church. It’s being the church in its most pure form. It’s sharing everything meaning love for one another, breaking bread, doing the works of the Lord, and baring one another’s burdens. As I watched my squad worship that night, I saw over thirty people who are willing to lay aside their wants and needs to war for one another, to war for me. 

That night was the perfect picture of how the church should live in community and war together. How much more so does Christ want to live in community and war for you and I, dear reader?