Warrior Challenge Day 5

A Warrior Trains for the Battle

“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
1 Tim 4:7-8

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”
2 Tim 3:16

Warrior, way to stick with it!

You’re doing good work, and you’re learning how to grow in spiritual as well as physical strength. A warrior is disciplined and intentional. A warrior trains his body, mind, and spirit to be ready for the battles that come his way. A warrior becomes familiar with the strategy and the weapons he will use.

Of course, God’s Kingdom warriors fight with different weapons than the world. They fight wielding the weapons of the King. Jesus knows love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, truth, faith, hope, and forgiveness are the best weapons in the battle for freedom. Jesus used these weapons to defeat the enemy. These are the weapons Kingdom warriors use to violently resist and fight back against the brokenness and despair they find in the world. They use these weapons to set captives free and to find increasing freedom for themselves.

A Kingdom warrior sharpens these weapons as he learns the strategies of the Lord found in spiritual disciplines: silence and solitude, worship and prayer, and working with the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word (Ephesians 6:17). These are the strategies that Jesus used as He outmaneuvered and outflanked the enemy, bringing an end to the rule of sin and death. These are the strategies a Kingdom warrior allows to inform his thinking, feeling, and behaving, bringing him in line with Kingdom values and actions so he can counter the movements of the enemy.

You, Warrior of Christ, are being called to step into God’s armory. Pick up your weapons. Sharpen your sword. Put on your armor. Train for battle. Sit down in Jesus’ classroom and learn His strategies so that you may stand strong on the battlefield. Through the power of Christ at work within you, you’ll find victory in the battles He calls you to fight and He allows to come your way.

Don’t allow your past defeats to keep you down, extinguish your hope, or distract you from your mission. Ask the King to train you in how to use His weapons.

Keep asking Him to expose the real enemy, reminding you what and who you’re fighting for.
Keep fighting for and resting in your identity as His child.
Keep letting Him give you the strength you need to train, to learn, and to fight.

You’ve got this because He’s got you.  

TRAINING QUESTIONS:

→ What discipline might God be asking you to focus on in order to be ready to be used by Him?

→ What failures from the past can you see God using for His good today?

→ Which of Jesus’ weapons of warfare (love, joy, peace, etc.) do you need to pick up in order to fight your battle?