His Banner Over Me Is Love
Subject: Confident Faith in Yahweh-Nissi
Related Scripture: Exodus 17:15
Introduction
When God is our Banner, we have the promise of His victory in the battles that come up in life. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are not alone during these times of trouble. Creating unity among our Church family and the Sisterhood of the Church was even more important after the Pandemic. We had to stay home alone for our birthdays, holiday and other special occasions. Expectant mothers were told they would have to be without the support of family for the births. Seniors were left in nursing homes without family to hold their hands and kiss their foreheads in their last days. The enemy wants to isolate us to make us feel that no one cares. In this day and time, it is more important than ever to create a sense of belonging. Our women’s groups are a great place to create the ties that bind us together. But are we keeping these relationships at surface level in fear of opening up to others? Dare we say we have become immune to the loneliness, and we are just numb. Being vulnerable can be scary but it can also be rewarding. This program is meant to be a time to create a safe place to really bond together as a sisterhood in Christ.
Program Ideas
Whether you create a new women’s program such a weekly dinner and Bible Study, a monthly Scripture and dessert, or use it as a recruitment day for an already established program, it would be good to have the women invite someone they know that could use a little love. A tired new mom, an empty nester, or anyone going through a difficulty in life. Encourage them to look at the empty seat in their car and ask God who should they ask to fill it. We all could use some chocolate and some girl time to just relax.
- Have the women prepare handwritten cards of encouragement for those they know who could use it.
- Invite them to make a small banner, personalizing it for a woman they know is going through a difficult time. Add a flower and deliver it to that individual during the week.
- Make a book of encouragement. Take an inexpensive composition book, cover the outside with decorative contact paper (shelf liner) and decorated with stickers and ribbon. Fill the inside with encouraging quotes, songs, scripture, and funny memes from the internet. Give it to someone who could use some encouragement and the assurance that they are not alone.
- Make pick-me-up jars – decorate a mason jar with ribbon, stickers or paint. Inside place strips of paper with words of encouragement and scripture for the one needing encouragement. Each day they take out a slip, read it reminding them that they are loved.
- Pinterest has some great icer breaker games under “Sisterhood Games.”
Where is God
The Israelites were in the desert, and they were at a place where they were once again questioning if God was with them. Had He brought them to the desert to let them die of thirst? They were thirsty and in need of a miracle. Have you been in that place where you felt dried up and alone? God told Moses to take his staff and strike a rock and God gave them water. God ministered to their needs. He didn’t scold them for their bad attitude, instead He gave them replenishment, because He knew what was ahead of them.
When we are down and feel all dried up, that is when the enemy pounces the hardest. For the Israelites, the enemy came in the form of the Amalekites. Moses sent Joshua and his men to fight the Amalekites and Moses took Aaron and Hur to the top of the hill where Moses lifted his arms to the Lord in prayer. When Moses grew tired and put his arms down, the Amalekites began to win the battle, but as long as Moses kept his arms up to the Lord, the Israelites were winning.
So, Aaron and Hur brought a stone for Moses to sit on and then got on each side of him to hold up his arms. In this way the men were able to help Moses in his fervent prayer to the Lord. The Israelites won the battle that day and Moses built an Alter to the Lord and Named it Yahweh- Nissi, meaning, The Lord is our Banner.
During a ground war, the banner is a very important tool to help disoriented soldiers know the direction to follow. The banner was so important that if the flag or banner carrier was injured/killed and the banner fell to the ground, another soldier would drop his own weapon to pick up the banner. Without the banner, soldiers could get turned around, lost, or even believe that they had lost the battle.
As we are strong women, sometimes our first response is to fight the battles on our own. We need our sisters to come along with the banner that points us to our Lord. It was the Lord that won the battle for the Israelites, not the men and not Moses, but the men were all called to obey in faithful service. As 1 Samuel 15: 22 reminds us, to obey is better than sacrifice. When we are at our low places, the dry desert of life, the enemy will pounce quickly. These are the times when it is the hardest to pray on our own. These are the times when we need our sisters to come alongside us to support our arms while we pray. Sometimes we need them to start the prayers, wipe tears, and remind us that we are not alone. We have Yahweh-Nissi, God is our banner, and He hears our prayers and is fighting the battle for us.
- Do you have a set of Sisters in Christ who you know will drop everything in your time of need and come along side of you?
- Are you that Sister for someone else?
- Has God brought someone to your mind that you need to reach out to in support?
