Some battles have nothing to do
with picking up a weapon.
Military blood runs through my
family’s veins. My father did a stint in the National Guard and then the Army,
serving overseas in the Formosa Crisis. My father-in-law retired from the Army
after serving in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. A brother-in-law served in the
Air Force, and a nephew did time in Iraq. Even both of my children did short
stints.
When I entered my teenage years,
the Vietnam War was nearing an end—at least America’s involvement in it. The
military draft was still in force, and I feared I would end up in an endless
war. But it did end—along with the draft.
Although I’ve never served in the
military, I admire those who have and do. And although I’ve never fought in a
military battle, I’ve fought several other battles: Are my parenting skills up
to par? On what grounds do I make this decision? How will I care for my aging
parents and in-laws? Should I keep this job or look for another? How will I pay
for the move? Why am I depressed? Can I get through this divorce? Will I ever
find someone to love me?
The psalmist knew military battles, but he also knew other battles that didn’t
require picking up a weapon. No matter what kind of battle he fought, God armed
him with what he needed to win.
God gives all the armor we need to
fight the battles with the enemy of our soul—and the battles we sometimes fight
with God. He gives us the helmet of salvation. Thoughts determine actions. We
have the power to think on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and
admirable. We have a breastplate of righteousness, given when we placed our
faith in Jesus Christ. Faith is our shield, and we take the gospel of peace
wherever we go. Our clothes are girded with the belt of truth—which determines
everything we say and do. And we have God’s Word to guide every decision we
make and action we take.
When the battles come, victory is
certain if we adorn ourselves with the full armor of God. Don’t let life’s
battles defeat you. Claim the victory that can be yours.
Father, thank you for giving me the
weapons I need to win every battle in life.
I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.
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