myCharacter, hisPower

Every battle* you face is God’s opportunity to strengthen your character in His power.

Men are created by God to defend the weak and provide for those under our care.

An old movie trailer ends with these words: “The lives of many rest in the courage of a few.” In the battle, a small band of warriors rescues a doctor from a remote African jungle, along with the villagers she was caring for, before rebel forces overtake the province. The lives of these defenseless people depended entirely on the strength and determination of these brave fighting men.

This is a picture of Jesus’ courage. He was willingly executed on a cross but rose to life to set you free from the chains and limitations sin places on your life and from its destruction of dreams, potential, and future. One Man died for all humanity to make an off-ramp from the dead-end road of sinful living. He died so you could be free, so you could be a winner, so you could be your best, so you could become a man of God, and so you could live with Him for eternity in heaven. The only action required from you is to submit yourself to Him and follow Him. As you do, He will make you strong like He is.

You will need all of God’s strength because you and I were born into a real battle. Life is for keeps and we have an enemy: Satan. He is not using rubber bullets. He’s out to destroy you because it is the only way he can get back at God. God loves you, and Satan can’t touch God; therefore, he goes after you because you are the object of God’s love, concern, and respect. By attacking you, he’s attacking God. But that’s why God gave you a warrior’s heart like His own. Take it seriously and learn to fight with all of God’s power so you can grow strong without getting taken out!

John 16:33 should encourage you: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus has already won the war. When you do battle, you are taking hold of things Jesus has already won for you by His death and resurrection. It is your right as a chosen child of God to have every good thing He intends for you. But it won’t be handed to you on a silver platter. You’ll have to fight for it because you have an enemy who wants to deny you what God has planned. In the future, when we are in heaven and God has set all things right, everything will come easy to you. But for now, take courage and fight because Jesus has overcome the world. The battles you face are shaping you into the courageous man God created you to become!

Your life, and the lives of many others, rest in your courage!

*every choice, challenge, and temptation; all the losses and wins; your successes and failures