mantis warrior lessons 285/366

 I wasn't ready to leave the back porch this afternoon, but it was time for soccer practice so I stood and walked toward the door. I felt something brush against my leg, I knew it wasn't a dogs tail because I could see them. I brushed it with the top of my opposite foot to get it off. Something felt odd. I looked down and saw this guy:

I've never had a praying mantis land on me. I tried to gently shake it from my shoe but it didn't budge. I leaned over and nudged with my fingertip onto the porch. The dogs approached it and I saw a new side of the praying mantis: Warrior Mantis, on full defense. Even though my dogs were a thousand times larger, and there were two of them nosing him, that mantis did not retreat. He did what God designed him to do. He raised up on two legs and fanned out those wings. It. Was. Awesome.

For the last five hours the stance of that mantis keeps coming to mind. I am resolved to follow it's example. The next time the enemy comes at me I want to stand tall. No retreat. Firmly planted. No cowering or folding in on myself. Arms raised in prayer and praise. Confidently displaying and using all the gear God has given me. 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:10-17