War StrategiesНамуна

The War and Its Battles

Read 1 Peter 1:9 and 1 Peter 5:10 (NLT).

The war, which we did not choose, has a goal: “the salvation of your souls” (v. 9), which is the eternal glory of fellowship with God. For this it is worth fighting and persevering, or as Paul writes: “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:14)

In this war, it is good to know who the supreme commander is and who our allies are. The supreme commander is God himself, and his first general is Jesus. He has already fought the battles and emerged victorious. Jesus is our example and our ally. He is our example of faith, obedience and wisdom!

God himself is our ally, out of love, and for this he has given us the Holy Spirit, which Jesus also had. It is the Spirit of power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). Another important ally is your church. There, you can always get your armour (Ephesians 6:11) in shape and sharpen your sword. There, you can draw strength in praise and be assured that you are not alone.

An important tactic that has proven itself in battle is prayer. Prayer spoken aloud in the truth that Jesus showed us has great power. Prayers are good training tactics and keep you in touch with your most important allies. Fasting is also a good tactic to get clarity in the thick of battle. Taking the initiative, by acting rather than reacting, gives you a tactical and strategic advantage - you can use it to anticipate temptations and ruses. What are your weaknesses and how will you address them? Along with initiative, tactical assets like courage, self-discipline and wisdom are important. Practice these methods and ask God about it: “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.”  (James 1:5-6)

Battles will and can be lost, but never the war for your soul! (Philippians 1:6) It is also a psychological battle: the enemy will keep whispering to you that you cannot win and that fighting is not worth it after all. It's also much more convenient that way - it's much cosier in your comfort zone anyway....

He who no longer fights has already lost! If you give up, you lose freedom here on earth and eternal life in the glory of God. But if you keep at it and seek the fellowship of God, you cannot lose, because Jesus has already defeated the enemy: “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” (Colossians 2:15)

Prayer, Get Free & Next Step:

Do not forget to give thanks for all that God has already done for you. Give glory to God for all the victories you have won and will win, so that your heart will not be arrogant and you become proud.

Pray and get acquainted with your allies. Find a church where you can recharge your battery.