"Fight the Fight"

"Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness." (Psalms 119:159)

  When it comes to our walk, there are some things that we need to remain somewhat constant in the fight; listed above are probably three of the most important things that we must hold near and dear to our hearts and keep at the forefront of our minds. The first of which, and I share this with a very strong degree of caution, is that we understand what we are and where it is that God wants us to be. There are some things about each and every one of us that is consistent with who we are; there is just no getting around it. The more we try to correct it, the more it fights back and makes us feel defeat. The way Matthew Henry puts this, is to notice how David does not say, 'Consider how I keep thy precepts,' because David knew in his heart that he fell short in that regard; but he did love God's precepts, because they were always the best ways to live and to be blessed. It is just a simple fact, God's ways are always the best ways; they might not be easy to follow, but they are pretty simple to understand; God really does not try to make them very complicated, it is our doing or undoing of them that makes them complicated. So, in the sake of time, this first area in the arena for those that fight, is to understand that we are weak and broken fighters, and that the fight we fight is not ours, but God's! He is the one who yields the power; He is the one who has all the strength; we are merely tools or vessels in His hand; as such, we must yield our lives over to Him to be used. You know that saying, "80% of success is showing up!" Well that counts for something here, because that is what David is trying to say, as he asked God to consider how he loves His precepts. The second most important thing is that God must change us, we cannot change ourselves. Try all you want, but just like a orange tree cannot become an apple tree; but if God wants it to happen, then it will; you can bet on it happening! This is a little like the lame man at the pool of Bethesda, the one Jesus asked, "Wilt thou be made whole?" If there is any kind of fight that must be in us, it needs to be the will for God to change us, to heal us, and to make us victorious! (Whatever it takes, Lord, have your way in me! Lord, you know all things, you see how far short I fall, even though I set out to do all that you tell me to do; now change me, O Lord, and make me more like you!) Which brings us to the third and most important thing to any soldier who fights in God's army: He has overcome the world and given us the victory! Seriously, there is nothing we need to be afraid of, no matter how hard things might get, because the victory is ours; we are His kids, He is not going to do anything but love us, rest assured...

"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:1-5)