God Is Training Us To Fight
When we went to a Calvary Chapel conference recently, we walked into the room where they were looking after the 6-11 year olds and my son pointed up at some words they had put up high for everyone to see. He said, “Why is ‘fighting’ up there?”
I am always telling the children not to fight. So he was wondering why they were going to talk about fighting!
Of course they were using the word in the sense of our spiritual warfare as Christians. Our whole life is a fight because we are battling trials, temptations and spiritual forces of evil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph 6:12
And God is actually training us to fight. Recently I read in Judges how God left some of the nations in the land of Israel so that the children of Israel who had not been at war would be taught to know it. And it struck me that God leaves these trials and temptations with us for a reason – to teach us how to fight spiritually.
Now these are the nations which the LORD left, that He might test Israel by them… (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), Judges 3:1,2
I have been very discouraged recently by my continual battle with self-control in the area of food. I lost weight with no problem before I had children, but since having 3 of them and homeschooling I have found I really struggle with it!
I think I was hoping that God would help me figure out the solution to losing weight and it wouldn’t be such a problem – if I prayed enough, or didn’t stock my cupboards with cake, or got into a different mindset etc. And some fights are like that. Some temptations we can deal with in such a decisive way that they never trouble us again unless we go down the path towards them.
But there are others that may never go away, and I think fighting for self-control in this area might be an ongoing battle for me! But I’ve realised that’s actually a good thing because if I didn’t struggle with any temptations anymore I wouldn’t be able to continue learning to fight. The Philistines had to be fought over and over again in the Old Testament. And I have to fight to be self-controlled every day.
This week I read another verse saying the same kind of thing, that God is training us for war:
Blessed be the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1
I have found this comforting because it’s shown me:
- There is a purpose in these trials and temptations that we face – to teach us spiritual warfare
- It is a learning process, so we shouldn’t get discouraged when we don’t do so well
- Now I know what I’m up against and can plan accordingly
It has also challenged me:
- To think more about how to fight spiritually and be more open to what God wants to teach me in this area. ‘For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds’ 2 Cor 10:3,4
- To put my armour on everyday, because there are some temptations that won’t go away that easily!
- To study the armour of God in Ephesians 6, for a better understanding.
- To make sure I’m really praying and relying on God, because it is clear throughout the Bible that it is God who wins the battle, just as David said before fighting Goliath: Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 1Sa 17:47
Years ago, before they went to take the gospel to the Auca Indians and ended up all being killed, Jim Elliot and his fellow missionaries sang the hymn ‘We Rest on Thee, our Shield and Our Defender”. I think it is a great song for our warfare as Christians:
We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
Yes, in Thy Name, O Captain of salvation!
In Thy dear Name, all other names above;
Jesus our Righteousness, our sure Foundation,
Our Prince of glory and our King of love.
We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,
And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
“We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.”
We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.
Thanks for this post, Rhoda. It’s good to be reminded than some of the battles we face (and often re-face over and over again) are part of the training ground.
Soldiers in training have to overcome many obstacles and fears, tiredness and exhaustion, hunger and cold and pain. And once they’re serving soldiers they still have to continue training and re-training as necessary.
I like the idea that I don’t have to feel defeated and gloomy every time I fail. It’s an essential part of my training.
Great perspective!
Thanks Chris, I wasn’t even thinking of comparing it to real soldiers in training nowadays, but that’s very true!