16

Ichabod

In the Walt Disney animated version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, poor ‘ole Ichabod Crane was haunted and chased to great extreme by the evil Headless Horseman. But was he? Or was he so consumed with superstition and fear that he allowed it to overtake him?

We can’t afford to be like Ichabod. We need to have our armor on at all times; when we sleep, when we’re awake, when we drive, when we shop, and even when we sit down for meals. No matter where we are, we need to be prepared. Why? Because we are at war!

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ~Ephesians 6:12, NLT

Sitting in church, listening to the powerful words of my pastor, I was reminded how tragic it becomes when we no longer fight for what Jesus paid in full for us to have! We allow people and our government to overtake us. We allow the opinions of others to intimidate us. We allow sickness to ravage us. Yet all along, we only had but to speak the name of Jesus and those things which would control us would once again come under our submission!

It sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? It isn’t! It is truth. And where truth is, darkness and lies have to flee. Where truth is there is freedom! However, we often act like Ichabod and run when we should turn, raise our Swords, and fight!

Many times we cry out for prayer, prayer, prayer, when all we have to do is STAND. I’m not saying asking for prayer is a bad thing. Because the more people are in prayer, the more of God’s warriors are standing and backing up their brothers and sisters in Christ. What I am saying is that any time we hear bad news, or something bad happens, we cower and accept those things as truth, when in reality they are lies.

The truth is found in God’s Word. HE says that we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37)! HE says that no weapon formed against us shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against us shall fall (Isaiah 54:17)! HE says that by HIS stripes we are healed (1 Peter 2:24)! HE says that He has plans for us, and those plans are not to harm us, but to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11)! Yet we still cower. We still hem-haw around. We still question if God is really for us. Why are we not believing God? Why are we believing all the lies of the enemy?

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? ~Romans 8:31, NLT

We need to put our armor back on and fight like the warriors God intended for us to be. Instead of running in terror from our headless horseman, we need to turn, raise our Swords, and strike true and sure with the Word of God. We need to say, “Get behind me, Satan!” Because once we do that, he has to flee (James 4:7). When we draw near to God, He will draw closer to us, and when we ask for His help, He gives it. No questions asked.

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. ~Ephesians 6:13-18, NLT

You who are reading this right now have been commissioned by the Lord to do something. It just popped back into your mind and heart when you read that. Only you and the Holy Spirit know what that is. So, why are you still sitting there? Get up! Put your armor on and go to war! You will win! Yes, the battle is already won, but you have to maintain the victory! You have to keep your armor on, stand your ground, and keep all the headless horsemen at bay.

Ichabod Crane believed that once he crossed the bridge the Horseman had no more power. Let me tell you right now, the enemy only has the power which you give to him, bridge or no bridge! If you allow him the power to control you, he certainly will. Then he will make you miserable. So stop giving it to him!

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. ~1 Peter 5:8-9, NLT (emphasis mine)

Yes, we will come under attack. Our job is to back up one another; support each other. Our job is to stand firm. Stay strong in your faith. When you see a brother or sister who is struggling, back them up! We have Christ’s back. His stripes gave us our freedom. But don’t leave a warrior behind. Don’t leave someone in battle alone. Back them up!

Tell me, friends, are you an Ichabod…or are you are Warrior?

*All pictures used by permission. I do not own the copyright to any of them.

*Original post from 2013. Revised 2021