Stand Up. Stand Strong. Stand Fast. BUT STAND!

The last couple of week's I have been receiving a word from God. One word as a matter-of-fact.  Stand. 

A couple of months ago when I was facing what I thought may be a very serious medical crisis I prayed a simple but powerful prayer, "God no matter what I will stand! Regardless of the outcome God I will stand."  I said this prayer over and over until it became almost a mantra. I said this prayer out loud with a firm voice and I said the prayer in my heart as I wept uncontrollably with fear.  No matter how I prayed the prayer the end result was the same - the eventual peace and power of God would flow over me.
This particular prayer originated from the words I heard T.D. Jakes say in a sermon.  The sermon was many years ago but I can still see him on the tv screen saying loudly and proudly, "....if all else fails I WILL STAND! When all around me flee ~ I WILL STAND! When all HELL breaks loose ~ I WILL STAND!"

When I received my medical diagnosis Bishop Jakes' long forgotten words came to mind....STAND. 

Once the initial shock began to wear off and I was able to find a quite place I began to pray.  As I prayed I felt the Holy Spirit stirring in me, "This did not shock Me - I am the same God today as I was yesterday. I AM able to do amazingly and abundantly more than you could ever ask or perceive. So are you going to crumble onto the floor devastated and destroyed or are you going to STAND firm and trust Me?"

That message from God was so powerful I began to seek to find the scripture with the word STAND in it.  I simply KNEW in my heart Bishop Jakes was making a scriptural reference when he said those words. I never found the scripture and could not find anyone familiar with a similar reference. Then God brought me a special gift from a special woman.  I wrote an e-mail to a few friends on FB yesterday and in her reply my friend quoted the elusive scripture I so desperately sought months ago:

"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. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." ---Ephesians 6: 10-18

Tears welled in my eyes when I read the word STAND once, twice, three, four times.....

....so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes...

.....stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand....

Stand firm then...... 

The version I remembered from Jakes' sermon was "...and having done all, STAND!"

Stand.  How amazingly simple - yet simply amazing.

We stand to read the word, we stand to salute the flag, we stand to show respect for an older person.  We stand up for the ones who are unable to stand up for themselves.  We stand strong in the face of adversity.  We stand fast when we are overwhelmed by situations out of our control.  We may pray, we may fast, we may discuss with others....but having done all (that) we must STAND! - Not run.  Not walk. Not sit - or even kneel. Stand. 

When I consider this verse I remember an old hymn from my childhood ~ "Upon this SOLID ROCK I stand - All other ground is shifting sand."  How true.  There is no stronger, no more firm foundation than the Solid Rock Himself.- So I WILL STAND!