For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.
Psalm 18:39 ESV
It’s a battle…
It’s a battle to pursue physical fitness and healthy habits…
It’s a battle to pursue spiritual discipline and faith- fullness…
Just like our flesh would rather stay comfy on the couch… than go on a two-mile run in the summer heat… our spirit… would rather keep comfy… and not be pressed to practice spiritual disciplines…
Prayer… as in praying out loud for others…
Fasting… putting aside our appetites… our desires… for a specified time…
Studying the Word… choosing the things of Him… rather than the things of the world…
Walking in the Spirit by faith… being certain… sure… of what we do not see…
Exercising faith… it’s a battle…
I wonder at those who buck up against a push to be uncomfortable when it comes to exercising faith…
Those who don’t want to be pressed into discomfort… because faith shouldn’t be anything but comfortable…
Growing in faith is the same as any learning… any discipline… it takes effort… it takes some discomfort…
There are forces which don’t want Believers to grow… our very own flesh housing His Holy Spirit is one such enemy…
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other…
Galatians 5:14 ESV
It’s why Jesus said…
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. …”
Luke 9:23 ESV
Dying to self… is a prerequisite… a daily practice… of following Christ…
And yes… it’s very uncomfortable…
The other enemy is spiritual in nature… the forces of evil… to whom we gave rule of the world after the Fall…
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over the present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 ESV
We only battle our own flesh… the rest of the world is about those unseen forces deceiving those around you…
These are the forces we fight each day to grow spiritually…
It’s hard… it’s a battle… it’s the only one worth fighting…
He knew it would be hard… so He equipped us… prepared us for the daily battle of spiritual growth… of walking by faith…
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Ephesians 6:12 ESV
We may fail… but He never will…
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26 ESV
Enter the battle… fight the good fight for your faith…
Rely on His strength…
Exercise spiritual disciplines…
It’s what we’re called to do…
Fight the good fight of the faith.
1Timothy 6:12 ESV
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