Night Attack
John Havener August 7th, 2007
I recently talked to a much loved young friend that suffers significant depression, 
especially in the morning. I felt evil spiritual forces of some sort were taking advantage of his resting state and launching a night attack on him, largely unopposed. I asked him if he asked God to cover him while he rested, and if he commanded the enemy to stand back while he slept…no, not really, until we talked.
Night attacks are very real to me. I am a Vietnam vet and was deployed in Danang,RSV during that war. At night, enemy fighters would set up big 5″ rockets and shoot them into our airbase…sometimes three attacks in one night. There is something about night combat that amplifies fear and terror and the possibilities of confusion and stupid actions. Something about stress in the night that can wear you down. I would pray before or when I lay down and build my faith with the word of God…and keep my helmet and flak jacket very close!
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. (Psalms 4:8) This was one of His promises that really helped me, and there were others.
By the way, the first successful night attack recorded in history was Abram’s attack on the kings who had kidnapped his nephew Lot and his family. By the grace of God, it succeded. The Scripture speaks of those who are “prepared for the terrors of the night.” “All of them are skillful with the sword; they are battle-hardened veterans. Each of them is armed with a sword, on guard against a night attack.” (Song of Solomon 3:8) May I suggest that you begin to build your faith and your families’ faith for safe passage through the night…spiritually and physically. A major terrorist attack or natural disaster may shut down local law enforcement ( Katrina and the New Orleans PD, for example). It might come down to you, God and possibly some good neighbors! Some starter possibilites regarding preparation are sharing good faith scriptures with your children, having good illumination ready, having a plan to communicate and assemble as a family, thinking through ways to communicate with the outside, and deciding beforehand whether or not firearms factors into your plan. There’s more, of course, like having a healthy, alert dog!
Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night? Could it be the Lord, wanting to use you in prayer, or to alert you of something you might head off? It is time to take the possibility of night attack more seriously, whether spiritual, physical or both.He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation. (Psalms 91:1-16)
May the good Shepherd keep you through the night!
“You can run, but you cannot hide,” said my instructor at a course for House Inspectors hosted by a FEMA contractor. (FEMA, a huge agency, works through experienced Corporate Contractors to administer the program in which I serve as an individual “independent contractor.”) A timely, professional response is stressed by the training and insisted upon by both the Corporate contractor and FEMA in actual practice…a good thing. Computers process not only the data on the individual/ family but also track how long the application has been in the field, down to the minute. “In this era of electronic information transfer, every agency that needs to have the info has it in five minutes!” Amazing! Detailed information about you is almost instantly available to the appropriate “agency.” Not related to FEMA, but also interesting is the fact our government has the capability to monitor and quickly pass on your every phone call and email. These realities need to factor into our consideration of the emerging realities we face, and call for high levels of integrity and wisdom.Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have. Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone.