A Warrior

On Mission

Photo by John Ch on Unsplash

Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand (Ephesians 6:13).

From time to time when I feel the pressure of spiritual battle most, I need a pep talk that goes something like this:

You are a warrior on active duty, called to combat in the spiritual realm. Only in rare cases does God rout the enemy all on his own, like the time he delivered Hezekiah from Sennacharib. Most of the time you’ll be engaged in one kind of battle or another, so it’s important to have a readiness mindset.

Be careful how involved you get in “civilian affairs” (II Timothy 2:1). Keep your priorities straight. There’s nothing wrong with going to work, taking care of domestic responsibilities, making purchases, taking a vacation, or planning for retirement. But like a focused warrior, as you go about your life, stay alert. Be willing to sacrifice comfort or a “right” for a higher cause.

Remember, you’re always on duty. The times we live in—this is your watch, and you cannot afford to fall asleep. Not when much more is at stake than you’d ever guess as dark forces battle in the heavenly realm over you and yours. You cannot let discomforts or inconveniences give you an excuse to fall back from advance. Nor can you allow physical or emotional pain to distract you from your mission. Keep following your Commander wherever he leads, carrying out his purposes.

Of course the good news is that your side wins in the end. But in the meantime, in the heat of battle, remember that your Commander is always near. He’s one hundred percent for you and will send in reinforcements as needed. Keep your channel tuned to his frequency, always listening, ready to act at a moment’s notice. His wholehearted backing makes you stronger than you think.

Courage, girl!