“Get correct views of life and learn to see the world in its true light. It will enable you to live pleasantly, to do good, and, when summoned away, to leave without regret.” ~ Robert E. Lee

As I write, I just returned from a trip to Arkansas with a friend. Our purpose was to hike a beautiful trail and to find some space for spiritual renewal. I will be writing a complete series on the Prayers of Ascent highlighting the things the Lord spoke to me during our hike through the Ozarks. But, to start us off, I want to share a different experience.

We stayed in a small vacation town that used to be known for its Christian roots. People have come from all over to watch The Great Passion Play and experience the breathtaking beauty of a city that was built upon natural springs. The resort town is still breathtakingly beautiful, but I wouldn’t say the spiritual climate is full of light. As a matter of fact, what draws most people to the city seems to be the ghost tours that are offered in the old Victorian hotels and throughout downtown in the evenings.

This may surprise you, but we knew that our hotel, located at the very top of the city, had been featured on America’s Most Haunted before we went. As a matter of fact, the nightly ghost tours often stopped right outside our room. We didn’t stay in the featured room where paranormal activity is said to occur, but we were close. Just so you know, we slept hard after all the hiking we did each day. There were no supernatural encounters other than the peaceful presence of Holy Spirit as we prayed in the chapel located on the premises and sat in the swings that overlooked the valley.

However, that wasn’t the case in the city itself. Our first day, after browsing the shops in the downtown area, we stopped at Basin Park to rest. It’s an open patio area where street performers gather with benches and tables for shoppers. I could feel the brokenness of the young man playing guitar hiding behind a ski mask. I began to pray for him. But, in the midst of that prayer, I told my friend, I feel darkness right here. We didn’t stay.

We had a fantastic time throughout the week and on our last evening, we wanted to have a nice dinner downtown. Our restaurant choice was the balcony of the Basin Hotel that once again overlooked Basin Park. This time, being elevated, we noticed a spring in the rock above the park. My friend also noticed the young man who was seated next to us and began to cry. He was being treated to dinner by an older man. There was such a sense of brokenness about the younger one and the nature of the relationship was obvious. My friend prayed for identity issues to be restored and healing to be ministered as we ate our dinner. She noticed I had become quiet and asked if I was alright. I told her, “I feel a territorial spirit here.” Then we went to explore the spring.

As we read the placard next to Basin Spring, we learned that the entire city was built around it–this was the point of origin for the town. Standing above Basin Park in the middle of the city, we began to pray for life to be breathed into the churches and for strongholds to be broken. We prayed that traditional mindsets would be replaced by a genuine move of the Holy Spirit. We prayed that people would be drawn to the city to experience Kingdom activity instead of the deception of ghosts and other occultic visitations. Then we walked the length of the ledge and saw what had been erected over the city. In 2012, a statue was built named the Goddess of Basin Spring. She stands in stark contrast to the Christ of the Ozarks built in 1966 that lights up the mountains. Of course, we don’t worship a statue, but he is a reminder that “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” Aza, the other statue is touted as “a piece of art that transcends all religions and can represent whoever you need her to be.” 

I don’t think that it is a coincidence that our hotel happened to be at the highest point of the city. Or, that Father highlighted the Psalms of Ascent to me as prayer points on our hike up the trail in the Ozarks. But, the lesson was made crystal clear when we walked up the steps to Basin Spring and had an elevated view of the nature of the battle over the city. Relating this experience to what is happening in our nation, I know that there are real issues that need to be addressed through genuine conversation. I promise you, if we would have had an open door to witness to either of those two young men, we would have walked through it. But, I also know we need to be careful not to get caught up in the symptoms of the spiritual chaos we are experiencing. Instead, we need to get God’s perspective–we need to see from his elevated view.

Listen, if we cower back from running toward the darkness, there will be no hope for the people groping to find their way out. We don’t have to be afraid. Nor, do we need to ignore the state of things. We just need to know how to effectually fight the spiritual battles we encounter, and they won’t be won through works of the flesh. “For the weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-4. 

I will continue this series next week by looking at Psalm 120–the first Psalm of Ascent. You may also enjoy Freedom’s devotional series on the Fruit of the Spirit hosted by my pastor, John Bates. https://www.facebook.com/FreedomFellowshipIntl/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

It takes work to be the kind of people who know how to get above the confusion of our circumstances, but it’s where Father is calling us so that we can walk rightly in this season. My friend and I enjoyed our trip immensely. We didn’t let the darkening horizon dampen our excursion. Instead, when Father opened up for us a prayer assignment in the midst of our vacation, we obeyed.

Maybe this is what is truly meant by the phrase “our new normal.”