Men – the theme of THE BATTLE is on my mind because of our upcoming event on Saturday, November 14 in Pella. Recently author Justin Camp shared a devotional entitled “Prepare for Battle” and I wanted to share his message with you because it aligns with what David Dusek will share with us on November 14. Here is Justin’s message:
We are designed for battle by our Father God; we are led into battle by our King Jesus Christ; we are aided in battle by God the Holy Spirit. These battles are waged “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic power over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). The places where we meet our enemies have names like “sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these” (Galatians 5:19-21). Though perhaps less dramatic than battles fought on the ground or in the air or on the seas, their outcomes are more momentous. They determine not only how we spend our lives, but our eternities too (Galatians 5:21).
We have enemies. They are real. They are powerful. They are cunning, relentless, scheming always again us – scheming right now. We too, brothers, must be cunning and relentless. We too must be prepared. Create a battle plan. Resist any “this isn’t necessary” or “do it later” tendencies. Create a plan to bring the fight to our enemies. Write it out today. Make it explicit. Make it practical.
Some Battle Plan suggestions:
- Define the Battle … what problem would you like to finally overcome?
- Define Victory … what will victory look like?
- Lay of the Land … what external factors contribute to your problem?
- Points of Weakness … what aspects of your lifestyle contribute to your problem?
- Plan of Attack … how will you counter or minimize or eliminate your external factors and the contributing aspects of your lifestyle?
- Sources of Strength … how will you stay connected to God and community?
- Brothers-in-Arms … who will you tell about your Battle Plan with both victories and defeats?
- Engage Worship … worship is one of our best tools in spiritual warfare
