*Arrow of Words is a work of fiction, written to encourage and inspire us to stand as soldiers in the war against the enemy. Our victory is assured through obedience to THE WORD!
***
‘Look at you…,’ He said with clenched teeth, dangling stained briefs in my face. ‘All your worth and value.’
The smell stung my nose, making my stomach rumble.
Jittery, I looked up from where I sat on the floor. Despite the chilly room, my clothes became drenched in sweat.
I recognised him. Andidiok. The tall figure before me wore a fedora hat, skin-coloured latex gloves and dark glasses. My mother told me he appeared the morning I was born, gnashing his teeth and throwing a fist to see me cradled in Mama’s arms. She called him the defeated foe.
He appeared again at my christening. My first day in kindergarten. And at my graduation, he shot an arrow into the hall, but the Archangel Michael intercepted it.
On several other occasions, Andidiok showed up, spitting fire and hell at me. Each time I was about to take the baton and ascend the ladder, he came raining curses. Once I subjected myself to his tirade, I would wince in agony and curl into a pit. It would take me a few days to get back to my feet.
When I went through surgery, he came by. His appearance was as a faux lion. He fought hard to roar. But the Great One, Lion Esen Judah, revealed Himself out of the thick clouds. With one thunderous roar from the Great Lion, Andidiok froze.
***
‘Go away from me, please,’ I said, weakly. But my plea only earned me more taunts.
Flames escaped from Andidiok’s mouth. They flashed in the air making dark blue and red sparks. His voice became a cacophony of sounds. It echoed through my head, down through my spine, into my right ventricle and to my feet. I trembled and wailed in fright.
‘Don’t listen to his lies,’ a voice whispered. ‘He is a robber and a murderer. Resist him. And he will run off from you.’
‘Say to him: “‘I am the apple of God’s eyes.'” I opened my mouth to speak and the words hung in my throat.
Andidiok lowered the briefs to my nose and jiggled it with a dubious smile.
I looked at the briefs with derision and scrunched my nose.
‘Stinks, right?Like your heart, mind, body and soul.’ He raised my chin and kept the briefs at my eye level.
Tears soaked my blouse as Andidiok compared my brain to a goat’s. ‘Ebod useme.’ He wore the briefs on my head. ‘You’d never smell better than this.’
Every day, hour, minute, and second, the accuser sat over me, choking me with smelly briefs. And all I did was wail.
***
Days later…
Daughter of Zion, stand! Declare your freedom in Christ. You have a quiver filled with arrows. Use it. Speak. Tell Andidiok the truth. You are a new creature in Christ. The old has passed away.
In obedience, I arose and threw off the brief. Mustering all the strength, I sang, ‘Even the lawful captive has a deliverer.’
Andidiok gave a contemptuous laugh.
‘I am acceptable in the beloved. Jesus paid the price for me to live free of your lies and accusations.’
He threw the brief at me while mouthing another accusation. Infuriated, I threw it on the floor and stood with my hands on my hips.
‘Listen, Andidiok, through Christ, I live an abundant and victorious life. So do not trouble me anymore. I am precious to Yahweh. I am a woman of valour. Yeshua took me out of the miry clay and set in on the Rock, above reproach and shame. Leave now!’
A bright light overshadowed me. Andidiok disappeared.
© 2023 Eno O’wunmi. Updated: 2024.
Meaning of words:
Andidiok – the evil one or the devil
Lion Esen Judah – Lion of the tribe of Judah
ebod useme – A foolish goat
