Attitude Change: Fighting the Right Battles

For weeks I’ve been unsettled. If you and I were talking, I’d have to share with you all the circumventing things that were going on inside my head and pressing on my heart.  I’d have to confess that these things were disrupting, keeping me unable to focus.

I’m concerned about so many things. My prayer list grows. Family. Friends. Associates. Prayer for people suffering. Cancer. Sickness. Depression. Addiction. Job loss. Anger. Aging issues.

I’m very concerned about our country and the hateful attitudes of our people in government positions.

Well, I could go on and on, but that’s not why I’m writing. It’s not what’s unsettling that I want to share. It’s what I’ve learned in the process of going through this disturbing time, a time when I felt unable to sink deeply into the healing power of prayer and worship.

One morning I stopped my Bible study midway, realizing I wasn’t fully invested, hadn’t even comprehended the last three paragraphs of my reading. I sat back and looked at my open Bible and study material. This was usually the time I prepared for the day. Preparing for the day is crucial. Who knows what could change or happen in the course of twenty-four hours? The secret to being prepared is to receive the life-changing power of God’s Word and to fully be engaged in this sacred time. When I realized I wasn’t fully engaged, I stopped. 

That’s when I remembered a piece Jonathan Cahn had written. I quickly found it and reread it twice. It was a total attitude changer! I was fighting the wrong battles.

Here’s Jonathan Cahn’s article: The Battles You Win By Not Fighting

*****

“George Washington was not only America’s first president but the victorious general of the American Revolution. Yet, most people don’t realize that Washington spent much of the war not fighting or advancing — but running away.

Why?

It was because he knew that he was in no position to win. And if he fought those battles which were a losing proposition, he would end up losing his army and thus losing the war. So he waited until the right time and the right battle to fight. And he ended up winning the war.

The enemy wants you to fight the wrong battle—to fight self-centered battles, to strive with others, to spend time defending yourself, to strive after things of this world which have no importance in the age to come. He knows when you fight these battles, you’re guaranteed to lose the war.

You don’t have to fight every battle, in fact, you have to NOT fight every battle. You have to let go and withdraw so that you’ll end up being victorious and winning the war!”

*****

Not fight every battle?

That’s right.  I don’t have to fight every battle, not mine or anyone else’s. But I do need to be prepared to battle the right battles. BE PREPARED. 

Why?

Because we know Satan is fighting to ruin us and destroy our faith. 

So how do we prepare for the battles? 

For those times when you feel distracted, discontent or discouraged, first STOP.

Remind yourself that life is a battlefield. You have to believe this to even begin preparing for battle. Preparing empowers you to defeat Satan and live in the spirit of peace and joy – freedom from those outside forces that seek to disrupt your precious time with Jesus.

Here are the three things to keep your mind centered and prepared to fight the right battles in life.

     1. Fight the right battles by abiding in Christ.

Abiding in Christ means to remain, continue, and stay close to God. Staying close to God means getting to know Him. In the New Testament, we get a very up-close look at Jesus, His responses, and His love for mankind.

God’s Words empower. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, He used the precious words of God to ward off Satan. These same words can be used when we need power over circumstances and choices. Use God’s Words; they cannot fail.

One way to be empowered by God’s Word is to learn scripture. Find a verse or two or three to memorize. When you feel your spirit is being attacked, use those verses to ward off Satan. God’s Words strike terror in Satan.

“Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees.” (1955 BGEA)

     2. Fight the right battles by abounding in Christ.

Abounding in Christ means to be filled with Christ in all we do, say, and accomplish. As we abound in Christ, we are filled to overflowing with the love of the Father and show that in our actions and ministry to others. We are fruit bearers – love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.

“A faithful man will abound with blessings.” Proverbs 28:20

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more.” Philippians 1:9

Abounding in Christ is an act of consciousness. We must fill ourselves with righteousness in order to fight the right battles in the right timing.

     3. Fight the right battles by adhering to Christ.

Adhering to Christ is to stay attached, stick to, cleave, and rely on Him. We must believe, trust, and realize that without God we can do nothing. The battles in life are real. Who would want to fight them alone?

It is through prayer that we stay adhered to the Father. If you ever saw the movie, War Room, you realized the power of a praying woman. Prayer is our communication to the Father who hears every word, even those wordless prayers when we are too full to know what we need to pray for. Few of us conceive the Divine, the Holy, the Spiritual because we cannot phantom beyond our chaos and confusion, the moment-by-moment experiences and crises. But we have resurrection power. We have the power to stop the swirling mass of anxiety by praying.

Pray for God to intercede and settle your spirit to hear His still, small voice, and to help you seal off yesterday, today, and tomorrow’s issues in order to sit profoundly in His presence . . . just you and the Father.

2 Corinthians 12:9 states, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

I can tell you I would rather boast in my suffering that the power of God is in me than wrestle to navigate life without Him.

Jesus’ love for us is eternal, and so is His grace. He wants us to cast our burden on Him. We were never meant to fight life’s battles without Him. Prayer is our direct link to the Throne Room. Tap on it daily. This is how we fight the right battles, through adhering to the Father in prayer.

“Millions of Christians have stopped believing that we are at war. No urgency, no watching, no vigilance, no strategic planning. Just easy peacetime and prosperity. We have so domesticated prayer that it is no longer in many lives and churches . . . We simply must create in ourselves and our churches a wartime mentality.”  ~ John Piper

Thank You, God, for the hope You give us,

the hope that sustains us,

and the hope that keeps our eyes focused on You!

With all the mess we see in the world, our only hope is in Jesus Christ. He offers us peace in the storm and joy in the morning.

Abide. Abound. Adhere. Be prepared!

Blessings to you always. I’m praying for you,

Angela

Living Life Through Faith, one day at a time!