The Lion King of My Heart - Warrior Mom Wisdom - Week of September 26

THE LION KING OF MY HEART

It was Saturday night. It had been an exhausting long week. Saturday flew by. I didn’t get anything accomplished as far as deadlines for the ministry or for school. I am at the tail end of a doctorate degree in clinical psychology. The road has been long and hard. Frankly, I think I was so mentally and physically exhausted from a long, disappointing week, that I couldn’t get anything done if I wanted to.

I was having extra challenges with one particular professor, and we also found out that we were not approved to buy a house. I was so tired of the program being so darn hard. I was also so, so tired of being in our current rental house. I had such a longing to “go home.” Frankly, I thought of how amazing it would be to go Home to Heaven at the end of this life. I knew God had more to do in and through me on this earth though. I merely wanted to have our own home that I could retreat to after long days. I’ll admit, I was sad, but I was praying and taking each thought, making them obedient to Christ! After running errands, my son and I got home, and I had every intention of getting into the office to “focus” when my son said, “Hey mom. Can you believe I’ve never seen The Lion King?” It’s on at 7:30; do you want to watch it with me?”

In my mind, I thought, “I don’t have time to sit down and watch The Lion King!” but my heart knew better.

Truthfully, I didn’t have enough time on this earth to miss such an amazing opportunity to sit with my son who was inviting me to spend time with him. You are not going to believe how God ministered to me through The Lion King! I’m serious. Have you seen that movie lately? I haven’t seen it in 15 years! I want to encourage you to watch it with your kids this week. No matter how old your children are watch The Lion King this week. But as you do, consider yourself to be Zimba.

Zimba grew up without his father. He grew up in a foreign land away from his pride. Speaking of “pride,” he had none. He was insecure, scared, and hiding from every opportunity to find out how much he was really like his father. Mufasa is his dad. He loved his son so much that he risked and gave his life for him. At one point, he speaks from the Heavens to Zimba and Zimb’s courage is awakened.

So, for the sake of being ministered to, consider God, your Father, as Mufasa. Consider the evil uncle Scar to be the devil who constantly lies to you, trying to sway you from the Truth. He condemns and taunts and desires to destroy you (I mean, Zimba). Do you see how easy it is to get into character here? My entire point is that your child-like faith will be awakened. I cannot even begin to capture the encouragement in this little devotional.

I will tell you that I got so excited while watching the movie that I forgot that I was boiling noodles on the stove. The hot, foamy water spilled over the pot and smoked up the kitchen. I had to pause the movie and run into the kitchen to try to contain the foamy water. I have to say, however, there was no containing the overflow of love and encouragement I received in my heart. As I watched the movie, you would have thought I was 5-years-old as I considered the awesome, faithful, warrior love of God! 

Yes, God speaks to you in His Word. He also speaks to you in the most unexpected, beautiful moments in the midst of your everyday life at the exact moment your heart needs a little hope.

^{Ro 5:6} You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

Since Christ died at just the right time, I know that “at just the right time,” when this tired woman needs to be ministered to, God rescues me from the business of the day, invites me to sit with my son and causes my heart to overflow with His restoring love. I thank God that I did not miss this precious gift with my son. I am also reminded that whatever God does through us, He does for us. 

Kristina Seymour loves to encourage and equip women through the Word and through community. She is the author of The Warrior Mom Handbook, The Warrior Mom Leadership Manual, and The Warrior Wife Handbook; they are available at Amazon.com. Kristina's Bible studies are for women who desire to live by faith in the midst of their everyday lives. She has learned that women can't survive on caffeine and animal crackers alone; women in the Word and in community are united and able to stand firm. To learn more about Kristina, please visit her recently founded Share & Company Publishing House  http://seymourkristina.wix.com/shareandcopublishingto. God loves to share His story of love and grace through us all, and Kristina believes that everyone has a story to tell.