Flaming Arrows vs. Shield of Faith

….take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ~Ephesians 6:16~

Well, I hope you all have been sporting your Ephesians 6 armor. You’re going to need it if you plan on continuing to support and pray for us and our adoption of Samuel. We are in a battle here.

Last week via a blog connection from our case worker, we found out that many other Ghana adoption families are experiencing this same sort of visa delay that we are. Here is an excerpt from this blog (the writer is an adoption coordinator for a different Ghana program than the one we are in; she has also adopted 2 children from Ghana):

Dear fellow Ghana families,
It seems to me that there are many within our adoption community that are "stuck" in the current visa process. Families have been waiting for visas for months with no end in sight. Some families are given a reason for the wait; others are just told "We are waiting for some things to be verified." My heart is so heavy for you if you are in this position…..

As a believer in Jesus, I know that when we align ourselves with God and choose to follow Him, then we immediately have an enemy that puts up a fight against us. The devil opposes all that God is and everything He does and anyone who believes in Him or tries to live His way. If you do not read your Bible, then you have no idea about what I am talking about, and you probably are ready to send me off to the crazy house. However, it is BLATANTLY CLEAR from scripture that adoption is the VERY HEART of God. I just keep thinking about the AWESOME GOD STORY that Samuel is going to have once he gets here. Through his story, many, many, many people are going to see first-hand the awesome power and sovereignty of our God. The power of our Almighty God IS THE ONLY thing on the entire face of this earth that can break through evil and its hold on these adoptions that are currently being ‘put off’ for days, weeks, and months for no good reason. Please, if you have been praying for us and Samuel, KEEP PRAYING! And, please pray for all the other families experiencing this same sort of hold up with their adoptions as we are. Pray that God’s power would supernaturally BREAK THROUGH the prevention of orphans coming home to their forever families.

I am Samuel’s mother. I will NOT lose heart in this battle. I know that God triumphs over evil. He confuses the plans of the wicked. He silences the lips of evil doers. God hears my complaint and will protect my life from the enemy. He will hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked. They who plot injustice and say “We have devised a perfect plan!” will be brought to ruin. I will rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him! (Psalm 64)

I have faith in God. I can look at a mountain and say to it ‘Go throw yourself into the sea’ and I WILL NOT DOUBT in my heart that God will do it! (Mark 11:22-24) God is my strength and my salvation (Psalm 118:14). Though an army besiege me, my heart WILL NOT fear. Though war break out against me, EVEN THEN I will be CONFIDENT (Psalm 27:3). If God is for us, then who can be against us (Romans 8:31)? Certainly it is the Lord who is faithful, and will establish and guard me against evil (2 Thessalonians 3:3). No one whose hope is in you, Lord, will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse (Psalm 25:3). Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God (Psalm 20:7). In the day of trouble I will call to Him, and He will answer me (Psalm 86: 7). God, YOU ALONE are my Savior. My hope is in You, all day long (Psalm 25:5).

I will praise you Lord all my life. As long as I live I will sing praises to you. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord. You, Lord, are the Maker of heaven and earth. You alone made the sea and everything in it. You remain faithful forever. You uphold the cause of the oppressed. You give food to the hungry. You set the prisoners free. You give sight to the blind. You lift up those who are bowed down. You watch over the alien. You sustain the fatherless and the widow. You frustrate the ways of the wicked. You reign forever. FOR ALL GENERATIONS, You reign (Psalm 146).

We have 3 DAYS until Esi’s flight leaves for America. That means 3 DAYS for Samuel’s visa to be approved so that he can be chaperoned here by Esi and finally COME HOME. I am praying that I get an email today or tomorrow from the Embassy saying visa approved – come pick it up. I know this appears absolutely impossible. Kind of sounds like telling a mountain to go and be thrown into the sea. But I know the One who is in the business of doing the impossible. My hope is in Him. ALL DAY LONG my hope is in HIM.

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still.” ~Exodus 14:13-14~