I looked down as I cooked dinner, and a single ant crawled across my shirt. I smiled because God was reminding me. Over the past few weeks, ants have been everywhere. I’d even be at restaurants with friends and look down to see a line of ants. As soon as I’d point it out, they’d be gone within minutes. I asked, “Lord, what are you saying?”. It’s no coincidence that ants are associated with marching, as the old song goes “the ants go marching... hurrah hurrah!”. Ants may just have the secrets to our marching orders this season. Here are a few interesting things about the way God created ants that He is highlighting for this season: Group effort- Ants are extremely social. They live in colonies, take over “territory” together, and have elaborate communication. In this season pray about your colony! Time to stop being an island! To take new territory, you’ll need the individuals God is bringing you. Be praying for Him to highlight the team being brought alongside you. This will be a source of mutual edification and exponential accomplishment. Guard against attacks against unity or communication. If you’re having an issue in this area, pray God would give you eyes of truth to see what’s really going on. Tidying Up- Did you know ants are known for being tidy? I didn’t until I did some research. “Ants are clean and tidy insects. Some worker ants are given the job of taking the rubbish from the nest and putting it outside in a special rubbish dump. Ants are useful for clearing out insect pests and aerating the soil.” (Info from Animal corner UK). This hit home since God had just been speaking to us about the spiritual significance of the house cleaning we were doing in the natural. In our gloves and sweat we loaded a trailer full of things to go to the dump. It ended up being supernaturally easier, cheaper, and quicker than expected. God began speaking to my heart through that that when I let go of the old and put in the work to do the cleaning needed, it was met with miraculous blessings and created space for more movement and new things! Some of you similarly are in a season of tidying. It will take work to spiritually prune what is needing to go, but God will come alongside you with His power to create supernatural ease. As you go through the pruning it will allow for more MOVEMENT in your life and space for the NEW. Healing wounds- “In some parts of the world large ants have been used as sutures (stitches) by pressing the wound together and applying ants along it.” Specifically ants are clamped on, the mandibles or mouths of the ants stay in the skin, and when they fall out a few days later the wound is closed. It may not be the first thing I think of when I think of ants, but there is significance to this. There are WORDS (mouths) that are being used to heal. BUT in order for ants to close a wound you have to let them be applied. There are healing words being spoken over areas that are still open wounds. God wants these wounds to be in the past, so let His words be APPLIED, and healing will come. Unreasonable Strength- “New research published last month showed that the neck joint of a common field ant can withstand 5,000 times the ant’s weight. Previously, ants had been photographed carrying dead baby birds, so it was estimated they could carry around 1,000 times their weight. But the new numbers surprised even the researchers” (insidescience.org). Probably the most commonly noted oddity about ants is their unrealistic strength. The things they lift seem impossible. This is also a word over this season. There are BIG things that seem impossible to carry- and are, by the world’s measures. Watch this season as God enables you BY HIS STRENGTH to carry what you couldn’t carry on your own. Perseverance and Integrity -“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” (Proverbs 6:6-8). This verse kept coming to mind when I’d see or hear about ants these past few weeks. While it sounds harsh at first read, this verse really stresses the importance of perseverance and integrity. Perseverance is CONTINUING. There is a temptation to quit short. There is a temptation to choose ease over activity. While blessing is never works based, God is wanted you to guard against stagnation. Keep moving after Him. Also, integrity- doing what you’re doing no matter what the season is- is going to be key to advancement. The ant in this verse had no ruler. It was not working for eyes watching it or any other gain. It was simply working because it was how it was created. Notice too that the work isn’t grueling...the work sounds delightful. “Storing” and “gathering” are the words used in relation to the ant’s work in this verse. Storing implies PREPARATION. Preparation is exciting. The Lord is going to call you to do things to prepare for the next season. Don’t be lazy in doing them, as they’re building up for something delightful. Gathering implies HARVEST. There would be no gathering if there was no fruit, so as activity continues and even increases instead of feeling worn out, take notice of the fruits you are gathering! Seeing this harvest will energize you to keep pushing through when tempted to quit. This spiritual discipline will sustain you in seasons ahead. The outcome will be that you, like Paul, will be able to say “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” - Philippians 4:11-13
The Ants Go Marching
Updated: Mar 11, 2020