When a knight won his spurs in the stories of old
He was gentle and brave he was gallant and bold
With a shield on his arm and a lance in his hand
For God and for valour he rode through the land
No charger have I, and no sword by my side
Yet still to adventure and battle I ride
Though back into storyland giants have fled
And the knights are no more and the dragons are dead.
Let faith be my shield and let joy be my steed
Against the dragons of anger the ogres of greed
And let me set free with the sword of my youth
From the castle of darkness the power of the truth.
(Jan Struther, 1901-1953 © Oxford University Press)
‘When a knight won his spurs’ is a song that sticks with me from my childhood, the very last line says ‘from the castle of darkness the power of truth’. We all travel a journey some more simple and straightforward than others. This song always brings to mind a knight on a white horse coming to save me – Many of my dreams are of a brave knight coming to save me from my life, particularly when I was not happy with my circumstances.
On 9th October 2003, God became my knight and saved me as he prompted me to come along to this church for the first time. I had the awesome experience of God speaking to me through what Stephen spoke about at that service. At first I couldn’t understand why Stephen was speaking about me and my life, until Helen Wood explained it was God speaking to me through Stephen.
This was the start of my Christian journey with my knight who saved me, and often when troubles threaten to overwhelm me, I will revisit the song and go off in my imagination to God my knight who helps me to cope with the stress I feel.
It is easy to lose sight of God, to push him to one side because circumstances get in the way and I forget about or become complacent about my relationship with God - I don’t do it on purpose - I just get carried away with doing other things. Often they are things for other people, and I ignore thinking about myself, until finally, I realise I needed to look at my own health and connecting back with God.
Last year there were several weeks of praying and not hearing any answers from God. Lots more things came along – some hurt me very badly – and I wanted to run away and hide and never come back, but God ‘spoke’ to me - I needed to stay where I was and get back ‘on track.’ I was exhausted and just wanted to hide away, but I prayed and prayed and told God he was still my still my strength and shield, and he was my Rock and Salvation – he was all that I desired and I asked for help. I felt God had heard my cry and I felt a peace and calm come over me.
I felt back on track for a while, then Covid19 hit, and I think it was during the 3rd week when I heard people saying how much they were missing church, that I was stopped in my tracks as I realised I hadn’t been missing it! I started to panic and asked God why I wasn’t missing church like everyone else was. I was perplexed, I loved listening to ‘Songs of praise’ and the song and reading on the website, so why had I not missed church?
After a while I realised that for me lock-down had forced me to slow down, and I found I was spending more time in the presence of God and felt very content and at peace – as God was being put first in my life and not crowded out with doing things and being where I was expected to be. I felt my heart was back where it belonged with God and at one with God. He was at the top – in the centre – everywhere on my heart. I am leaning on God all through this Covid19 situation.
I’m listening to his words with a new ear. I do miss friendly faces from church, and I miss Humphrey’s House, but that’s okay – these things will return. For now, I’m learning I need more rest and recharging of my batteries. Listening to God as I did before and no matter who or what attacks me, I am sure God will be there with me just like before, He will see me through everything. He is my strength and shield as I walk with God. I know I can face the many choices and challenges life has thrown at me when I have God as my Knight and my Salvation each step of the way. I walk in faith and each step makes me stronger in my faith – Karen
P.S. from Stephen:. Karen wrote this in response to the article I wrote on Sunday 24th May asking you to think about what it means to ‘Yield to God’. In the article I mentioned another of Karen’s favourite songs ‘As the dear pants for the water’ which is based on Psalm 42. Use the lyrics of the chorus to lead you into prayer.
You alone are my strength, my shield to You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship You.
(Martin Nystrom © 1983 Restoration Music)
Listen on YouTube to ‘Be thou my vision lyrics’
Judy Cook’ latest newsletter about Hope Home in Thailand has arrived. If you would like to receive a copy, please email me. I look forward to writing to you on Sunday - Stephen