Here I sit four hours from the Ukrainian border as week three of the Russian attack on Ukraine wages on. I’ve held my World Race experience with open hands as our route has changed numerous times for COVID restrictions. So it’s by no accident that we find ourselves here. We were supposed to be in Asia at this time, then South America, then Kosovo, but we happened to be in neighboring country Romania “for such a time as this”.
I feel blessed to be partnered along Hope Church Romania during this time. It has been incredible to see the ways that Raul, Ana, Cristina & the rest of their team has dropped everything to work tirelessly serving the Ukrainian people. So far they have helped over 200 Ukrainians flee to neighboring European countries. They have been able to provide food, clothes, toys, bedding, documentation, and additional supplies. They’ve rented three houses to temporarily house refugees. They’ve been able to encourage them and lead some to Christ.
I have personally been able to help encourage Ukrainians and make them feel comfortable in Romania, grocery shop, prepare housing, create campaigning material to raise funds, and run tasks for those making trips to the border.
It is through these situations that I learn more of who God has made me to be each day. He has lit a fire in my heart for the oppressed people of Ukraine and Russia.
As I sit in very close proximity to this physical battle, God led me to a sermon on the spiritual one that we exist in daily.
“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.” Ephesians 6:12
This scripture isn’t merely speaking of the kings, queens, presidents, and prime ministers. Nor am I referring to Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Hitler, or the slew of communist dictators that have senselessly oppressed people for generations. We see that when one dies, another quickly fills his place.
It’s not flesh and blood. There are outside spiritual forces above these institutions – media, government, politics. Humans participate with these forces. However we only see a portion of the picture when we think it’s just humans at work here.
We are not merely dealing with flesh and blood consumers. We are dealing with a spiritual enemy who “prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” His number one way to deter us from taking arms and fighting back is disinformation.
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8
War is no longer only about taking territory, but controlling the narrative. If there’s no control over the narrative then the territory is lost. This disinformation is meant to hold us back from knowing who we really are in Christ via fear.
One of his biggest tactics is distraction – busyness. It’s looking at the world as what you can accumulate in experiences. 2 Timothy 2 instructs us not to get caught up in civilian affairs, as we are soldiers of Jesus Christ. There is nothing wrong with participating in daily affairs, but when they become our everything it becomes an issue.
A theologian named Martin Thornton used a sports game as an example for the church. He said the church is divided into three groups. Those outside of the church who have no idea that there is a game going on, not to mention who’s playing. The fans that sport the colors and jerseys are the spectators. They scream and cheer, or heckle and tell the coach what he should be doing. They seem to be part of the team. These are the nominal christians or consumers of religious goods and services. Lastly there are the players on the field who suit up, take the tackles, score the goals, take the coaches orders, get injured, and don a stained jersey. Throwing everything on the field and leaving nothing behind. These are the ones that God always uses.
We need more people on the field and in play.
I don’t mean that you need to suit up and charge over to Eastern Europe. This means fighting right where you are right now within your sphere of influence.
Ways you can help Ukraine:
Prayer requests:
- More people to get involved and help us
- Ability to rent houses for refugees
- Protection of the Lord in everything we do (travel, documents, accommodation, discussions)
- Refugees who come in our cars or our homes to experience the love of the Lord through our volunteers
You can:
- Donate to the ministry we do for refugees
- Promote the need by sharing posts and having discussions with people
- Come on a short-term mission trip and work with us
Ways you can battle spiritual warfare daily where you’re at:
Worship is warfare. When you sing to God it’s like the air force providing air support for the battle that’s happening on the ground of the spiritual realm. When you act holy and pure in a world that idolizes impurity and unholiness as a virtue, that is worship as warfare. When you live in community and see and love people for who God made them to be. When you steward your time wisely and do everything to the glory of God, that’s worship.
It doesn’t matter what you’ve been doing up to this point. Only where you go from here and who’s taking you there.
All the love,
Lindsey
