The Makings of a Warrior

Is life getting you down, and the troubles seem overwhelming? Welcome to the story of life! Who ever dreamed that being grown up would entail so much heartache and struggle?

But really, what else can we expect? We were born into a world at war, and that war touches different areas of our lives everyday.

I'm not talking specifically about physical 'bang bang' war (although there is certainly physical war in many parts of the world) - I'm referring to the battles that go on in every life, every heart to find your place of significance, to achieve security, respect, acceptance, to overcome our weaknesses, juggle the demands of everyday life and still be fully alive.

In reflection, there are more people who fall prey to the battles of their lives than on physical battlefields everyday. You don't need to be one of them.
In every soul lies the makings of a mighty warrior. Does this surprise you? Every one who considers themselves a follower of Christ is being trained for spiritual combat. Most of us don't think of our struggles as training arenas of strength - but that is what they are. Those who focus only on the strength of the enemy fall, but those who know their King will rise from the dust again and again with a steely glint in their eye.

The Bible is really a very honest book. It tells Christians that they will be persecuted, 100% guaranteed (John 15:20); it tells them that there will be troubles (John 16:33); it warns us that we have an enemy who hates our guts and stalks us, waiting for an opportunity to destroy us (1 Pet 5:8, John 10:10). This is only focusing on the enemy -- and it's not even half the story.

The other part of the story is when you realise your place as a warrior, have no tolerance for Satan and fight valiantly without reserve until you completely destroy his works in your life, and in the lives of those around you.

How do I know this?

1. Your King, Creator, Deliverer, and the God who adopted you as His child is a mighty Warrior Himself.

Who is this King of glory?The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. Psa 24:8 

The LORD is a man of war; The LORD is His name. Ex 15:3

2.  Your King has completely destroyed the power of Satan, your enemy

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Col 2:15

3. Did you ever wish that you were dangerous? You are. Satan targets you because you are a threat

 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John5:3-5

4. We are actually already positioned as victors

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33 

5.  You are MORE than a conqueror.

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Rom 8:37

You have royal blood in your spiritual heritage, your place is beside Jesus on the right hand of the Father (1 Pet 3:22; Rom 8:16-17). That position gives you access to all the power of heaven through humility, prayer, the word of your testimony, trust in the blood of Jesus, praise and worship. But that power is not for nothing. It was given to showcase the glory of the Lord through our lives.

How do we showcase His glory?
1) Fighting through our struggles, and overcoming, then coming out the other end full of grace, humility and the light of revelation in our eyes.
2) Helping others overcome their struggles through our prayers and love because we've been there

If His strength is made perfect in weakness, it is not because it was imperfect, but that our weakness gives His strength an arena to be unveiled in all its majesty.