So many times we avoid things because they are painful, they will cause us harm or heartache or maybe cause us to "break a nail". I never play baseball or soft ball anymore because I have to redo my nails after every game. You see, I have never learned to play the game without giving it my ALL.
The same thing applies to our walk. Most people do not want to confront truth because it might cause them harm (ever heard the cliche, "don''t kill the messenger"? How many times have I--or you--brought a message and had to pull the arrows out of your back as you left? Or heartache (lost any friends because you refused to compromise truth?) or maybe "break a nail"? (well that one just goes without saying).
I had a vision of David
fighting battle after battle. He was dirty, bloody, beat up, hot and tired but
he WON. The Lord was with him. The Lord guided his battle. He proved victorious
over and over.
We forget the important things
in a battle:
1. Battles
are meant to be fought with others. Ever seen an army of one?
2. Battles
are not fought in a sterile environment. Ever seen a war in a hospital
operating room?
3. Battles
cause you to be in vulnerable positions. Ever see a war movie? Someone has to
raise their head to shoot.
4. Battles
create friendships with people you might never have known otherwise. Ever heard
about the reunions of old army buddies after dozens of years?
5. Battles
cause you to watch out for the people around you. Ever pay attention to who is
praying beside you and holding YOU up?
6. Battles
cause you to learn to watch for orders. Ever forget that Christ is your guide
and you are not alone?
7. Battles
cause you to become disciplined. Ever get attacked and walk away from God
because it was easier to feel sorry for yourself?
8. Battles
may be for someone else. Ever heard the saying, "Its not all about
you?"
9. Battles
can be for a person or a cause. Ever studied any famous battles either real or
fictional?
10. Battles
wreck your clothing. Ever seen a clean soldier coming in from a battle?
11. Battles
wreck your armor. Ever seen a tank hit by the enemy?
12. Battles
can make you bleed. ever seen a soldier who was wounded?
13. Battles
are lonely. Ever write to a loved one away at war?
14. Battles
are hard to talk about. Ever hear of PTSD?
15. Battles
bring out the most judgmental people. Ever see
a protester who forgot they were protesting a war and not the people?
16. Battles
are expensive. Ever look at a military budget?
17. Battles
cause lives to be lost. Ever see someone walk away from
an intercession and leave a hole for others to fill?
So many times we expect the
Lord to give us something without cost. We think if we have to extend any
effort something is wrong. We forget there is an enemy who goes about as a
roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
The battle may be long, it may
be hot, it may be bloody but don’t get weary, don’t give up.
Seek the Lord:
- His wisdom
- His plan
- His guidance
and then fight like it is for
your life—because it is.
If the enemy can detour you,
defeat you, destroy you, he will.
Don’t let him.
