While it’s true we don’t often get to choose our battles, we can certainly decide how we’re going to fight them.”
–Andrew Weston (Trouble on the Smoky Hill Trail)
“For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.”
–Psalm 18:39 (ESV)
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“There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
–Numbers 13:33(NKJV)
“…We felt like grasshoppers next to them, and that’s what we looked like to them!” (NLT)
Ponder that verse for a little while. Perspective! Ten spies saw that they were little, incompetent, and small. There was no chance for victory. They wailed that the people there were so strong, and that their cities are walled. Then came the report from Caleb and Joshua: “Let us go up at once and possess the land!” The difference was all in their point of view. The difference was in their view of God. Alistair Begg reminds us, “One aspect of our happiness relates directly to how we think and how we see. Our thinking about reality shapes our lives, for better or for worse.”
–Andrew Weston (Trouble on the Smoky Hill Trail)
“For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.”
–Psalm 18:39 (ESV)
—————————-
“There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
–Numbers 13:33(NKJV)
“…We felt like grasshoppers next to them, and that’s what we looked like to them!” (NLT)
Ponder that verse for a little while. Perspective! Ten spies saw that they were little, incompetent, and small. There was no chance for victory. They wailed that the people there were so strong, and that their cities are walled. Then came the report from Caleb and Joshua: “Let us go up at once and possess the land!” The difference was all in their point of view. The difference was in their view of God. Alistair Begg reminds us, “One aspect of our happiness relates directly to how we think and how we see. Our thinking about reality shapes our lives, for better or for worse.”
Faith must be tested. Bill Wilson writes, “Tested faith produces power. Tested faith brings boldness. Tested faith creates character.” No matter the age in which we live there are enemies and temptations, and fears, yes, even giants. Wilson goes on to say, “Faith is an enigmatic thing. It is a mystery. Faith is rooted in your understanding of God and your trust in Him. Faith is the willingness to do what others will not do. Faith inspires you to look at things differently than those around you. Faith enables you to defeat your enemies, conquer your fears, and survive your failures.”
Here was a major test for the people of Israel, and guess what? They failed it. Failed it because of a different possession of the situation in front of them; failed it because of a weak view of an almighty God. We are living in a time of passiveness, a time when the pundits cry for tolerance, yet at the same time promote lawlessness and anarchy. Don’t they see the foolishness of their thoughts and actions? We, as believers, are to be God’s army for fighting against the powers of the world that are settled here, vying for your souls. War comes, if only to test those who had not been in battle, or prepared for battle. I think of Judges 3:2, “He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience.” (NIV)
“The school of faith is the school of life” (Wilson). As you go out into the world today you may face the imps from the Pit, or perhaps it will be a “Goliath” that looms up his evil head in front of you. Are you ready to take on the battle? Jack Graham says, “Don’t let your perspective deter you from obedience.” Go forward, faith is the victory, but you must be willing to face the enemy, draw your sword, take the risk. The battle is there in front of you–everyday. Yes, you train, yes, you prepare, but there is a time to face and go into the fray.
“Into valleys, into waters,
Into jungles, into hell,
Let us ride, let us ride home again
With a story to tell.
Into darkness, into danger,
Into storms that rip the night.
Don’t give in, don’t give up
But give thanks for the glorious fight…”
–Frank Wildhorn
A hopeless situation will bring out your character. The fire of battle will determine the kind of person you are. Yet, we shun it, we don’t want to face the inevitable–the fight will be there. Run and hide, then face days and years of wandering in the wilderness or dare to face what is in front of you in the power of the Holy Spirit. Reject the taunts and laughter from the world, put on the armor of God and go into the fire. And I like what Bill Wilson says, “You do not get strength for a battle; you get strength from the battle.” Norman S. Marshall of the Salvation Army has this little prayer as we face the giants and enter the battle, “O Lord, you can turn night into day, fear into faith, defeat into victory. Help us to get our eyes off the evidence of despair and look to You for help. You have never lost a battle. Amen!”
Here was a major test for the people of Israel, and guess what? They failed it. Failed it because of a different possession of the situation in front of them; failed it because of a weak view of an almighty God. We are living in a time of passiveness, a time when the pundits cry for tolerance, yet at the same time promote lawlessness and anarchy. Don’t they see the foolishness of their thoughts and actions? We, as believers, are to be God’s army for fighting against the powers of the world that are settled here, vying for your souls. War comes, if only to test those who had not been in battle, or prepared for battle. I think of Judges 3:2, “He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience.” (NIV)
“The school of faith is the school of life” (Wilson). As you go out into the world today you may face the imps from the Pit, or perhaps it will be a “Goliath” that looms up his evil head in front of you. Are you ready to take on the battle? Jack Graham says, “Don’t let your perspective deter you from obedience.” Go forward, faith is the victory, but you must be willing to face the enemy, draw your sword, take the risk. The battle is there in front of you–everyday. Yes, you train, yes, you prepare, but there is a time to face and go into the fray.
“Into valleys, into waters,
Into jungles, into hell,
Let us ride, let us ride home again
With a story to tell.
Into darkness, into danger,
Into storms that rip the night.
Don’t give in, don’t give up
But give thanks for the glorious fight…”
–Frank Wildhorn
A hopeless situation will bring out your character. The fire of battle will determine the kind of person you are. Yet, we shun it, we don’t want to face the inevitable–the fight will be there. Run and hide, then face days and years of wandering in the wilderness or dare to face what is in front of you in the power of the Holy Spirit. Reject the taunts and laughter from the world, put on the armor of God and go into the fire. And I like what Bill Wilson says, “You do not get strength for a battle; you get strength from the battle.” Norman S. Marshall of the Salvation Army has this little prayer as we face the giants and enter the battle, “O Lord, you can turn night into day, fear into faith, defeat into victory. Help us to get our eyes off the evidence of despair and look to You for help. You have never lost a battle. Amen!”