TODAY’S PROPHETIC THOUGHT
The battles you are going through today will be the stepping stone to the victories of tomorrow. Don’t let the enemy put a stranglehold on you. Persevere through. You will be ready for battle with the strength and stamina that God has given to you.
WARRIORS AREN’T BORN
In my day, fighting wasn’t a big deal. Today, if a fight breaks out, you can count on a mob or a gun.
My mind goes back to a terrible eighth-grade bully. Held back three years, he was a foot taller than me and had the IQ of cool whip. He seemed undefeatable. After several months of being his piñata, my history teacher and two coaches took me aside for a clandestine meeting. It was years before I knew that word meant “secret.”
In short, they wanted me to fight back. They showed me how to fight and encouraged me. My chance at redemption came soon enough and I did what they taught me. I punched the bully in the nose. The beating that followed was classic in the annals of Joshua Middle School.
Another clandestine meeting. This time, encouragement and slaps on the back. “Way to go! You had him, Troy! Why did you stop? You should have kept punching!”
In the end, I did put that bully down. I didn’t grow in stature. I grew in confidence through every terrible battle. I was no longer afraid of being beat up. My resistance discouraged that bully and he finally decided he didn’t want to mess with me.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. – James 4:7
I learned how to be a warrior from that bloody season of my life. You see, you don’t learn to become a warrior through victorious battles. Warriors aren’t born. They’re made through a long succession of defeats. It’s all about getting back up and going after victory again and again.
Victory grows from momentum. The Bible calls it “faithfulness” and faithfulness is all about persistence. So be persistent in the battles between your ears. Battle darkness with light, lies with truth and overcome evil with God’s goodness. Invade your earth with heaven. It’s what you were made to do!
For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. – Psalm 18:39
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO DISCOURAGE THE ENEMY. GET UP FROM THAT DEFEAT AND TAKE A SWING AT SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER. DON’T BE AFRAID OF GETTING BEAT UP – THE VICTORY IS ALREADY WON!
From my book: BEST OF THE BREWER
