Day 15
Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle. Ps 144:1
God is so good, He never sends us into battle ill equipped. He gives us tools and goes with us, He shows us the dangers ahead to prepare our minds and fortify our spirit in prayer. He sends brothers and sisters our way to encourage us when the storms are hitting us and when it feels like we are all alone, He is the unmovable rock we can lean on.
I liken our lives as believers to a football match where God is the keeper, referee, net, ball, pitch, etc. It is impossible not to score against your opponent in a case like this unless we are not aware of what is available to us. Our victory is assured but the manner and timing of victory is based on our willingness to kick the ball. The game is rigged in our favor but we must know we are actually in a game and understand the rules of life.
The fall of man guarantees that as long as we are on earth, there will be tough times and battles, Isa 43:2 says ‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze’. It is a guarantee to enter fire and water. Right now I’m ill and I feel like I am fighting hard to function. I don't want to show up for this challenge because my body hurts and everything feels sucky but I remind myself that I have the tools of warfare and fight I must.
We must determine in our heart to stand resolutely following the example of Jesus Christ, to follow the purpose of God no matter how tough the road and seas become. Jesus said “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matt 26:39
It is okay to acknowledge that we struggle with the assignment and tasks given to us by God but at the end of the day, though He slays us, yet must we trust that His ways are always good.
I realized a while back that a war is ongoing and sitting down on the sidelines during war means death, so I choose life instead. I choose warfare and if I must fight then I choose the winning side and get myself into the training room, prepared to be called into the ring at any time. I decided long ago that I would show up no matter how I feel and drag as many people with me to the winning side. There is no time to dilly dally anymore sisters, the enemy doesn't take days off. Our only chance is God and we must learn to be sensitive to the training and skills He provides to us.
God puts dreams in our hearts to give us secrets of war and strategies for winning, it is essential to make sure the plans we have are not from our own flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Cor 10:4.
I know a lot of us struggle to move because we are afraid of a misstep. How do we know God is the one giving us the ideas or dreams? The only way to be sure is to lay all of our plans and dreams at His feet and ask Him about them. Lay them at His feet to die and also die to them -do not be afraid- His plans are always much better than ours. The ones that are not from Him will be buried forever and the ones that are from Him will be given new life.
Life is a war and the mind is a battlefield. Growing and moving ahead requires us to fight and win battles.