He Makes the Nations Submit

Learning Spiritual Battle Skills in the Ordinary

I had been in Africa for more than two weeks when my journal opened with an honest line: “So thankful this morning for a normal bowel movement and a good night’s sleep. Comforts I have definitely taken for granted.” You can probably relate. These things feel like norms—until they’re not.

For a moment, it felt as if the battle had eased. But soon another attack came. Evil hadn’t left; it had simply shifted gears.

Training for Battle in the Ordinary

That morning I spent my time in the kitchen cutting vegetables. It felt insignificant, yet I love cooking alongside others. I was the sous chef—chopping carrots, celery, onions, and whatever else was needed.

When I finished and went to wash my hands, I noticed my wedding ring. The inside looked as if it had been through a fire, leaving a visible mark on my hand.

There was no explanation. No lemon juice. No vinegar. Just vegetables and water.

My first response was emotional. Tears welled up immediately. My ring is deeply sentimental, and I couldn’t make sense of what had happened. I went to my room to steady myself and asked the Lord what was going on.

His response was His Word.

“He Trains My Hands for War”

Psalm 144
Praise the Lord, who is my Rock.
He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle.
He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer.
He is my shield, and I take refuge in Him.
He makes the nations submit to me.

The fire had not burned me. It had not harmed me. Eventually—thanks to Google and the collective wisdom of the internet—we were able to restore my ring.

But not before the Lord had my attention.

“He makes the nations submit to me.”

Was this the battle? Was this why I was there? Was this what the spiritual realm could see—even when I could not? Was this an answer to prayer I hadn’t fully understood how to pray?

And where was my faith to even begin believing such a statement? Was this promise for someone else—the pastor, the evangelist, someone more spiritual than me?

What was He teaching me? How was He training me?

While I was busy preparing food, He was busy preparing me.

If He gives my fingers skill for battle, then I wanted all the skill He was offering.

Seeing as an Observer

It was event day. As a visitor—an outsider—I was given a rare front-row seat. I watched the preparation behind the scenes and observed the execution of the event itself.

I knew the hearts of the planners. I saw the care poured into every detail. But I was also positioned to observe the people.

The Holy Spirit reminded me of a journal entry from months earlier:

“A positive outcome in my eyes does not equal God’s favor. My perspective is skewed.”

I asked the Lord to give me eyes to see what He wanted me to see.

As an observer, everything looked different.

I noticed cliques—and those left out. I saw generosity from those who shared all they had, and I saw greed from those who tried to ration and hold back. I watched people ebb and flow between serving and being served.

These were battle skills—not flashy ones, but essential ones.

Choosing Love Is the Battle

The intent of the event was love—to give others a good day. But it stirred a deeper question in me:

Do we give the giver the benefit of the doubt? Do we choose to think the best of others—our family, our spouse, our coworkers, our friends? What about church people?

We always have the option to choose love.

As I watched different ages, races, genders, and economic backgrounds intertwine, I wondered what would happen if every person chose both to give love and to receive love. That choice often requires stepping outside our comfort zones. I know it does for me.

We are all human. We all have fleshly desires. We all want what we want.

Only the love of Jesus can transform that selfish pull and move us toward serving and loving all others—regardless of position or color. When we humble ourselves and truly unite, we become more concerned with the happiness of others than our own.

Sacrificial love is what Jesus demonstrated. It is also what we are called to.

Submitting Before Nations Do

We all carry hurt, trauma, and perspectives shaped by our past. I brought these observations before the Lord and asked Him to help me live more generously—to stop hoarding what I want and truly trust Him with my future.

There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus.

Years ago, after a painful moment in a close relationship, I wanted to shut down and walk away. The emotional cost felt too high. The Lord gently said, “You are looking at this through the lens of your past and not through the lens of what I can do. I can redeem this if you will allow it.”

As believers, we know God can redeem all things—but do we actually want Him to?

Do I want to be right, or do I want to be righteous?

I continue to ask the Lord to change me, so my past hurts do not dictate how I love in the future. I want to reflect the love of Jesus—not Jacki. I have failed at this more times than I can count.

But if He can make nations submit, shouldn’t I also submit to Him?