War!

by Colin Michael

Do you ever feel as though just doing what is right and necessary is nearly impossible? Did you ever ask yourself, "Why am I doing this, this is not right?" What is going on? Somewhere between thought and deed a battle is raging... but you are not alone.

For I do not do the good that I desire; but the evil which I do not will, that I do. But if I do what I do not desire, it is no more I working it out, but sin dwelling in me. I find then a law: when I will to do the right, evil is present with me. For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin being in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:19-25 MKJV)

That was said by the super-disciple himself, Paul the Apostle. The same Paul who encouraged the Philippians to follow his example as he followed Christ. He said that, when his mind willed to do the right thing, still his body and emotions were craving to do nasty things. And, sometimes, the emotions get the best of us, no matter what our intentions. It's an all out, bloody war with casualties on both sides. But let me tell you just one little secret about the enemy.

Our enemy is the true slave to sin. There is nothing that he can ever do to overcome it. Because of that, there are some hard and fast rules we can follow. First, get up early and get into a strategy session with your team, the Father, the Son, and your personal trainer the Spirit. The enemy is a party hound who can't get up in the morning without a big jolt. You'll get a jump on him if you roll out of bed early, grab your Bible and get right on your knees. Before your emotions, your reactions, or your body have time to mount an attack, you'll be armed for the battle and have their playbook memorized.

Second, don't ever stop to do a victory dance when you win a battle. That's when the ambush is sprung on you, just when you have had a little success. Keep your game face on and take time only to thank God and to pray that you will not be surprised when the bombs begin again. And third, don't ever end your day without attending the debriefing! Share the experiences of your day with Jesus, perhaps write a journal entry about how it went, something that you might find consoling in a time when the battles aren't going your way. Then get some rest so that you can get the jump on the enemy again tomorrow!

What can you expect if you follow this strategy?

"So, my dear friends, listen carefully; those who embrace these my ways are most blessed. Mark a life of discipline and live wisely; don't squander your precious life. Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me, awake and ready for me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day's work. When you find me, you find life, real life, to say nothing of GOD's good pleasure."  (Proverbs 8:32-35 MSG)

Expect to be blessed when you start with God, side with Him, and order your life around His good pleasure. Awake ready for Him, listen to His Word and expect to be blessed with real life. Anything less is death.