As I sit in this middle row seat of a plane and stare out into the night sky after a two-day conference that I thought would make me feel exhausted from being rushed and packed to the brim with the late night and early morning schedule, I find myself in the completely opposite position. I feel relaxed, restored, and refilled. Don’t get me wrong, I was expecting to be filled by the Christian speakers, but the filling I thought I’d receive was more knowledge and discipline based versus the wisdom and…conviction, yes, but also encouraged fullness I feel now.

How interesting that slow is so foreign to me. As I sat at the conference and watched the “quick thirty minute break” become more like a forty five minute intermission, I realized that when there is fruit being produced, like there was in the deep conversations being had between the hundreds of sisters in Christ, rush and hurry becomes so distasteful. Yet it was how I lived out almost every one of my days.

It is in this moment that I realize what it may take to not just decently defend, but to attack and overcome the lies of the enemy.

Ruthless faith.

Scripture tells us that’s the devil watches and prowls around us like a vicious lion staring at little Bambi after a hot summer day and a growling stomach. So if the enemy tempts, plans against, and attacks us ruthlessly, is the only way to claim victory to be ruthless back?

In Exodus 3, God gives directions to the Israelites on how to literally “plunder” the Egyptians. Sounds pretty ruthless to me, but if it’s from God, we should consider why it was necessary.

The Egyptians were initially living right beside the Israelites without an issue. That was until they began growing (aka. fulfilling Gods promise of becoming as numerous as the stars). When the Egyptians realized the power of the Israelites numbers, they began enslaving them. Hmm. Sound familiar?

When we begin pursuing God’s will in our lives, it is not uncommon that we also begin facing some pretty harsh attacks from the enemy. And sometimes, he will do it in the most subtle ways possible. It starts with a busier schedule, a sickness, or maybe a big fork in the road with no clear direction. Whatever it may be, it is intended to distract you from God.

So how exactly does God guide the Israelites to respond to such a ruthless attack? Well, as we see in verse 22, He calls them to plunder. But not in the way you may be thinking.

When God says “so you shall plunder the Egyptians”, He first says, that because of the hardship their enemy will give them, He will stretch His hand over them and drop some miraculous wonders. So if this was in a step order; step one is to step back, listen, and watch God as you invite Him into your circumstance.

Once He claimed to take the first action, He promises redemption and provision in verses 19-20. So here’s your second step; pursue a confidence in God’s faithfulness through reading His word, praying, and replacing your doubts with His truth. You cannot have faith in the promises you never read about.

And the last thing God says to do in order to plunder the enemy is to walk out in faith. He calls the Israelite women to wholeheartedly trust that He has brought compassion into the Egyptians hearts and because of that, He tells them to boldly ask those Egyptians; not for water or something understandable like some new sandals for the trek their about to make. Nope. God tells them to ask for silver, gold, and clothing. Crazy, I know. But there’s your last step; walk boldly in the promise of God, even when it seems insane and unlikely to lead to success.

That my dear friends is how you ruthlessly plunder the enemy. Empty yourself in humility and replace your doubt, anxiety, loneliness, depression, pride, and fear with a confidence in Christ. Listen intently, wait on your cue, build up a truth-centered faith, and walk confidently in the faithfulness of your all-loving God.

If there’s anything I learned on this trip, it is how easy we let the enemy fill our lives with distraction after distraction in the mask of productivity. I experienced fruit during the slow…something I was always taught was impossible. Now I can never look at my days the same after getting a glimpse of freedom.

How bad do you want to live in the way God intended you to? Be ruthless, but ruthlessly biblical.