Are You Ready?

Are you ready to do battle today? The victory in Jesus is beyond all human comprehension, but it doesn't come cheap or easy. It cost God His Son. Which, while unspeakably selfless and gracious from our vantage point, was something an incredibly magnanimous God was more than willing to do. But, His work doesn't end there. He continues to work for His glory all the time. As life goes on, God peels back the layers battle by battle, trial by trial, to reveal just how capable --and I hate to use that word; it's so inadequate-- to reveal just how capable He is of gaining victory in every situation. He doesn't have to break a sweat or wring His hands or re-engineer a thing! 

However, those God enlists to do battle, they are a much different lot. We, His soldiers, worry and fret. We talk about the battle way too much and, perhaps, even talk about those fighting alongside us. We think we can come up with new ways of winning the war, and spend countless hours wandering to and from each battlefield devising plan after plan to "work all of this out." When we battle emotional infirmities, we seek one doctor after another trying to find an answer as to why we feel like this. When we battle insufficient finances, we rob Peter to pay Paul and consider cutting back on our tithing. We think, we plan, we feel, we see... When do we have time to do battle? The Bible tells us we "wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Eph. 6:12) These are supernatural powers with which we do battle. Do we honestly think we can defeat them with a spreadsheet or a week's vacation? 

We need to put on the armor of God everyday. This is not speaking some protection or curse into existence by the word of our mouth; God has wisely designed and given us armor perfectly suited to these battles. It lies in footlockers stenciled with our name, waiting for us until we put it on piece by piece. We must tell ourselves --out loud, if necessary; using hand motions or sketches or song, if necessary-- what we have in Christ Jesus: truth that holds everything together and keeps us upright; the righteousness of Christ that guards our most vulnerable areas; the boldness of the gospel --100% complete in and of itself, with no need for adaptation or abridgement (Check out Peter's presentation of the gospel to Jerusalem!); the exercise of faith (usually worked out in the most painful and difficult of circumstances); the certainty of deliverance that protects our minds from attack as well as during falls; the Word of God that, when saturated throughout our bodies and launched forth from our lips will deliver fatal blows to the schemes of the evil one and our own flesh; and prayer. 

Prayer! Prayer is how we defeat the supernatural. Seeking the face of the God who is sovereign over all. Humbly imploring Him for whatever is needed --grace, mercy, healing, provision-- so that we stand in agreement for what He has already given us at the cross. Petitioning the God who loves us and is working all things out for our good. The more often we come before Him affirming His goodness of plan and purpose for our lives, the more assuredly we believe it; the more assuredly we believe it, the more victories we will experience. There are no cheap seats on the battlefield. There are no casual observers. You're either fighting or you're losing.

So, are you ready to do battle? If you are, be ready for victory!