This is how we fight our battles

    

When we are surrounded by obstacles and trouble is on every hand, what do we do? What do we do when it seems as if all hope is gone and there's nowhere to turn and everything seems to be lost? What do you do, when your body seem as if it has become a place a torment and your greatest captive? Who do you call to fight those battles that you yourself cannot fight because the fight is within you. Michael Smith said it best, "it may look like I'm surrounded but I'm surrounded by You". 

    Let me be frank about the situation on health. Many people are held captive by their health. Just in America alone 37.3 million people are living with diabetes. According to the Centers of Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) that's 11.3% of the American population. Not to mention cancer. The National Cancer Institute stated in 2020 that " an estimated 1,806,590 new cases of caner will be diagnosed in the United States and 606,520 people will die from the disease". 

    There are many people from state to state, from country to country that are fighting homelessness. In the United States, The National Alliance to End Homelessness, stated in 2020 that "there were 580,466 people experiencing homelessness in America. Most were individuals (70 percent), and the rest were people living in families with children. They lived in every state and territory, and they reflected the diversity of our country". 

    This is how many Americans are fighting multiple battles. In fact, this is how many people around the world are fighting their battles. No matter how we fight, we can never give up. However, our greatest strength and support that has been given to us is Christ. Therefore, in Christ this is how we fight our battles. 

    In Christ, we fight our battles not by our own strength but through the strength of The Most High. We are encouraged by Apostle Paul in the book of Ephesians to be strong. Things might seem overwhelming, but we must remain strong. Apostle Paul encouraged the Ephesians to remain strong and I am sharing that same encouragement with you. I am fighting my own battles with health at this very moment. However, I am refusing to give up and praying that you don't either. Ephesians 6:10 says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might". Do not lean and depend on your own power. If you do so, you just may surrender to the wrong being and give up on it all. 

    Life can be tricky to the nonbelievers. However, to a believer in Christ, we know that life is about doing our Father's will. Believers have a clear understanding that our strength is in the Lord in which our confidence lies. When the children of Israel forsake the ways of the Lord, they fail in strength and in battle. When they refused to return to the Lord, there was no change in their captivity and there was no peace. History reminds us in the book of Isaiah chapter 30 verse 15 the words of the LORD. It is written that the LORD spoke these words, for thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not". The following verse gives detail of how the children of Israel rejected the words of the Lord. Please keep in mind, that in our rejection comes swift and harsh consequences from the Lord.

    Here are some ways to fight back against the battles we face daily.

1.         We can fight through prayer. Prayer is a weapon that believers have that nonbelievers do not have. When David was facing obstacles within the kingdom of Israel from its leader King Saul, scripture tells us that he prayed, and he found favor from God. When God delivered David from the hands of King Saul, David prayed these words "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so, shall I be saved from mine enemies (Psalms 18:2-3). We must build a successful prayer life with God.

    2.             We fight our battles through our praise. Our obedience to The Most High will bring us victory. However, when we do not know what to do, then we should pray and praise. Yes, prayer will move mountains, but praise will confuse our enemy. The act of confusion is a weapon that The Most High used to defeat many enemies of Israel. Deuteronomy 7:23 says, "But the LORD your God will give them over to you and throw them into great confusion, until they are destroyed". 1 Samuel 7:10 says, "As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering. But the day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel". Israel was not successful in battle just because they fought. They were successful because they had God fearing leaders who lead them to victory through obedience to The Most High, and not to one another seeking glory for themselves. 

 3.             Last of all, we fight our battles by practicing discipline. Yes, discipline. We have to discipline ourselves to not follow in the ways of the people of the land. We have to learn to forsake those who are not practicing a Holy lifestyle. We must practice holiness because our God is Holy. When we are week it's a good thing to practice fasting. Fasting is an act of discipline because we are withholding food from ourselves to obtain power from the LORD. We have to be proactive in our relationship with the LORD. Remember, "much prayer, much power. Little prayer little power and no prayer no power". The time and effort that you put into a relationship will determine the success of its outcome. So, the ball is in your court. Practice does make perfect. The lack of discipline can destroy relationships, careers and families. So, learn to practice discipline. Proverbs 10:17 in the NIV says, "Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray". Proverbs 12:1 tells us that "whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid". Stupidity is not the t-shirt that any believer wears. 

    So, stay ready for the battles when they come. Yes, they will come but with prayer and supplication you will win. In order to gain, we have to go through the pain. 2 Timothy says it best. 

                    "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:"

    We must align ourselves up with the KING of kings and the LORD of lords in order to win our battles. Be blessed and keep the faith. This is how we fight our battles in the LORD.

Tyeshia Alston

@ Tyeshia's Chronicles