SHIELD WALL

By Christine Jayakaran

Being diagnosed by a potentially life threatening ailment put me on the forefront of a battle field I was not nearly expecting. My faith in my God was stronger than ever and I knew even if I had no one to stand with me He was enough.

Here's the thing though, we were never meant to stand alone.

As soon as I was diagnosed with an aneurysm in my brain my family and I reached out to our friends and loved ones who could cover us in prayer and boy were we covered.

If you have watched any Viking movie or documentary you would have heard of their famed battle strategy which was called the 'shield wall'. This involved the entire army raising their shields above them and clustering into a tight formation so that all the enemy saw was a shield wall. This wall was impenetrable and helped the army to advance as one towards the enemy and sometimes even push their enemy back and then mount an attack on them. As they prepped me for surgery I watched as our friends and family began building this shield wall all around me. They prayed round the clock for me so that every hour by the hour someone was kneeling in prayer for me and can I just say this - 'Victory was inevitable'. My husband and I couldn't pray much because of all the preparation that surrounded my admittance to the hospital but we didn't fear for our army was ready and in position. I couldn't be more grateful for praying family and friends who so selflessly took time to lift me and my family up to the God of heaven and earth and who bubble wrapped us in prayer.

I have noted down every prayer that friends sent me and every promise from the word of God that was spoken in prayer over me (being the crazed fan of journalling I am). Its amazing that every single prayer has been answered and I believe that every word of promise will come true sooner or later.

You might ask if we knew we would come out victorious why pray at all?

Well, because prayer is us doing our part in the battle. It's us telling God - 'I'm ready to do Battle Dad, my big guns are my voice and hands raised in praise and my head bowed in prayer. You can take over now!' God handles the rest and brings about the success.