Fighting Spirit

The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” – Judges 6:15

I dressed up for my PET scan to confirm the cancer cells in my body. After the two-week roller coaster ride when I found out there was an abnormality on my anterior chest, I had to be ready for another curve. The hospital porter brought me down to the PET scan center. A nurse took over and kept me in a small room for preparation.

She explained the procedure and injected a radioactive substance into my bloodstream. I had to lie down for thirty minutes for my body to absorb it. While she was performing the injection, she told me that experts would try their very best to cure cancer, but there is something they can never be able to give – the fighting spirit. She left the room, dimmed the light, and closed the door. I told myself, “She is entirely right. A fighting spirit inside me!”

In any battle, we either win or lose. Gideon wasn’t a warrior. In fact, he came from the weakest clan, lacking in wisdom, and was the youngest in the family. He had many doubts when God chose him to lead Israel to fight against the oppressive Midianites who forced Israelites to live in mountain clefts and caves.

When Gideon questioned God why all these tragedies happened to Israel, God’s answer was astounding. God did not focus on Gideon's tragedies or Gideon’s weaknesses. He turned to Gideon and proclaimed the victory! To make the situation worse, God only allowed Gideon to bring 300 men with trumpets and torches into the war.

Despite all the impossibilities, Gideon’s fighting spirit changed his and his people’s mentality. “For the Lord and for Gideon!” He proclaimed victory even before the war began. Having a fighting spirit is free will. Gideon could decide to give up, but he chose not to. God saw his faith, and He delivered Israel from Midianites.

Today, God is doing the same for you and me. He does not focus on the tragedies or our weaknesses. So He wants us to do the same too – to focus on the victory we have in Christ. He is saying right now, “Go with whatever strength you have and fight. I will save you!”

Let us not give up, but keep that fighting spirit alive inside of us. For God, nothing is impossible. No sickness, financial problems, or broken relationships are beyond His authority. What miracle do you need today? God is the miracle, and He is delivering us right now. Fight!

The fighting spirit inside us can change tragedy into victory.