Yesterday was an example of modern day spiritual warfare. I was scheduled to fly out to Dallas yesterday morning for a very important meeting with televangelist James Robison and several other major evangelical leaders. According to the departure time listed on my itinerary, I had plenty of time to make my flight, so I was in no hurry. My wife came into my office as I was eating an oatmeal cookie and pressing “send” to jettison Words for the Day to Tallahassee for distribution.
She looked at me like I was crazy and said, “Your plane leaves in five minutes, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”
Huh?
The problem was that I was looking at the wrong itinerary; I was viewing the one for later that week and not the one for my Dallas trip.
OMG!
My wife scrambled around trying to find another flight out of Tallahassee – no luck. Then she tried Valdosta, Jacksonville, Tampa, and Atlanta, and found nothing that would get me there on time. Finally she found one departing Orlando at 11:45. The problem was that I was 3 1/2 hours away and even if I drove like a madman I would arrive at 11:30 and surely miss my flight.
I was undeterred; I rushed around packed in five minutes and was out of there like a greyhound chasing a rabbit.
I left but had to go back because I forgot my cell phone. Grrrrr….
I tried to stop and get gas at the resort’s gas pump, but the gate was locked and I didn’t have my key. Grrrrrr . . . That meant more valuable time would be lost stopping for gas at a filling station.
I couldn’t find the device that allows me to go through toll roads. Grrrrr . . . That meant valuable time would be lost paying tolls instead of going through the Sun Pass lane.
I put the pedal to the metal for 3 solid hours dodging cops and trying to avoid having a car crash.
I got off on the wrong exit in Orlando. Grrrrr . . . More valuable time lost.
I was beginning to think that satan didn’t want me to attend this meeting. (You think?)
I wheeled into the parking garage and almost collided with another car; I’d forgotten to take my sunglasses off. Duhhh . . . I thought it was awful dark in there.
I was driving the car that I had given my father that I had picked up after his death. My plan was clever I would use his handicapped parking sticker to park near the terminal entrance. Boink! Wrong – All the parking places were taken. Grrrrrr! More valuable time wasted driving around trying to find a place to park.
Finally I found one a half mile away and parked. I looked at my watch and dejectedly noted that I had 13 minutes to go to the counter and get a ticket, go through security, ride the tram to the gate area, run down to my gate, and board.
Impossible!
But I hurried into the terminal anyway. The lady said the flight was on time and they were already boarding and I would never make it through security. I told her I would like to try. I got my ticket and hurried down to the security line; it was not very crowded. Thank you Jesus!
I told the agent my plane was boarding and he yawned and looked disinterested. Grrrrrr . . . I put all my stuff on the conveyor and got through the line quickly in spite of his disinterest (and stupidity).
I ran over to the tram and waited; finally the train came and I rode to the end and got off and ran to my gate. When I arrived, panting and wild eyed, they were preparing to shut the door; I yelled, WAIT!
I was the last person on the plane. As soon as I sat down the door was shut and we were told to turn off our cell phones. I couldn’t believe I made it.
Thank you Jesus!
We got into Dallas five minutes prior to a huge thunderstorm moving over the airport. The captain of the plane announced that we were lucky because if we had arrived a little later, we would have been diverted.
Thank you Jesus!
I made my important meeting for Renewal of America and it was a great meeting. Satan lost and God won the battle of the day in the great spiritual war.
So the moral of today’s story is when you are under satanic attack just remember that greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. Don’t give up even when things look impossible.
As added information the plane that left after mine that I was on standby for had I missed this flight had mechanical problems and was delayed. They got those problems fixed and then the storms in Dallas prevented them from even taking off for hours on end. Another attendee, Ralph Reed formerly of the Christian Coalition and currently CEO of the Faith and Freedom Initiative was scheduled on that plane and didn’t make it to the meeting.
Deuteronomy 31:8
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
May 13, 2014 – Click here to listen