Working in a War Zone

The Battle that Never Seems to End

In our war with sin, we're often looking for a breaking point--a point of rest and refuge where the battle thins and some of the dust settles to reveal the sunrise. But the reality is, all of us have likely noticed that it just doesn't "happen" that way.

Disaster at Every Turn

The true way to describe our daily battles, especially if there is an obvious area of struggle again sin we are facing, would probably be something like this:

"At every turn I face yet another temptation.

At every sign of hope I am reminded of my failures.

At every inch of growth I am crushed by a mile of backsliding.

At every Word of Christ's, the enemy is ready to smash me over the head yet again."

It really is hard to procede when we're working in a spiritual warzone.

Then Where is the Rest?

Does that sound like you? Do you ever feel that not even the Words of Christ can stay true in your mind long enough to have effect?

Know this, fellow Christian:

He Who does not let you stray hopelessly will neither let you fight battles hopelessly.

THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE.

He Who provides words of hope IS the hope.

THERE IS ALWAYS HELP NEAR.

He Who designed growth will give it to you.

THERE IS ALWAYS A PATH OF OBEDIENCE AND RESULT.

And "He Who did not spare his own Son but freely gave Him up for us all,

HOW WILL HE NOT ALSO WITH HIM GIVE US ALL THINGS?"
-Romans 8:32 (ESV)

The rest you seek is in His Word. Fill your mind with truth of God and weakness will dwindle. Rest your body with prayer in mind and trust that He will keep you from harm.

The battle rages on for life, but God blesses on for eternity.

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The Word of God

Low Humility - Our Best Battle Tactic

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

~1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)

"But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at My Word."

~Isaiah 66:2b (ESV)

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Best Time to Attack

It is often among victory that the enemy most-aggressively seeks to trip us up. When we are already on the ground, the enemy usually must only kick us while we are on the ground in order to reign thoughts of condemnation and defeat upon us. But it is when we are in victory that the enemy has something else to fight past--he must first get us upon the ground again.

Christian, stand in victory, but do not stand tall in self-confidence. This leaves your legs vulnerable to tripping, an opportunity that the enemy will always take to get us far from rejoicing in his enemy--God. March not forth in boldness if your motive is that you are through with the battle. It will never be done on earth!

Low Humility

Instead, stay low in the humble and desperate dependence that is to characterize Christians who have left the life of self absorption behind. March forth in the boldness that naturally comes after gazing upon the power of God to save. It is His strength that will deliver you. Is is His hand that will hold you up from temptation. It is His call that will be loud enough for you to flee sin as strong Christians do.

Mighty God

He is here! He is mighty! As sure as the enemy will not give up on your soul's destruction, much mightier will God not give up on your soul's refining. As the battle against sin and for holiness will never end until your exhale your final breath, so far shall He be with you--from now until you inhale your first eternal breath of Heaven. Then shall you be with Him, Christian, never to sin again, always to joyfully praise Him without interruption.

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The Ordainer is the Healer

"Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?"

~Job 2:10 (ESV)

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As much as God is the Maker of our humanly-unclimbable mountains, the Creator of the seas that rage around us, and the Ordainer of our trials, He is the Provider of strength to climb, the calmer of the seas, and the Healer of our excruciation.

I WILL LIFT MY EYES
Bebo Norman

God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near calm my fear and take my doubt
Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can't climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

God, my God, let mercy sing
Her melody over me
And God, right here all I bring
Is all of me
Your kindness is what pulls me up
And Your love is all that draws me in


I will lift my eyes to the Maker
of the mountains I can't climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

'Cause You are and You were and You will be forever
the Lover I need to save me
'Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together, God
so hold me now

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can't climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now

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Daily Thought: Mistreatment

We, as Christians, can, by grace, withstand any kind of mistreatment because:

1. There was no one more unrightly and horribly mistreated than the Son of God (Jesus)
2. We (all people) are the one Who mistreated and killed Him
3. He has forgiven us the greatest debt that will ever exist, the one we earned by killing His Son.

Therefore, our reaction to harsh bosses, unruly family members, persecutors, and the unkind should be distinctly different from the world.

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