Christianity is not for Wimps

Christianity is not for Wimps “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.” I Corinthians 16:13&14 NKJV Do you have a strong eye? I heard time after time as our daughter played softball her coach’s words, “good eye.” This meant to the ladies that they caught a difficult ball, threw a perfect pitch or stopped their opponent on her way to home plate. Good eye meant they were watching the ball very closely and carefully. It meant that they were constantly on guard never allowing their opponents to overpower them and win the game. This is how a Christian is also supposed to live his life; with large sized eyes, always watching for the enemy’s attacks, ready to respond with bravery and muscular vigor (in spiritual realm), ready for the fight, enduring till the end, never to be defeated. We have the power, the brains, the strength, and yes the grace. Everything we need to win, we can hold in our hand. God’s Word is the answer to every battle, every crisis; every need. Within its pages lie the solutions to every heartache, every pain, every addiction; every shame. As the believer surrenders to Gods truth, he becomes a new person. The flesh is the same but the heart is renewed. Desires of old become a waste of time, bad habits pathetic. This new person sees things in a different light. He’s not weak, tired nor defeated, rather valiant, strong and victorious. What would have conquered him in the past is now under his feet. He is now the victor instead of the victim. This kind of life only comes from knowing and loving a wonderful Savior. A Savior, who guards in every battle, stands firm with every word, remains brave against Goliaths and whose mighty strength is matchless. The moment a person becomes a follower of this Living God, a believer that this Mighty Warrior will take him under His wing and fight the fight on his behalf, life changes. But this new creation must do his part. What do I mean? Glad you asked. “Finally brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.” Eph 6: 10-13 NKJV A softball game is fine and dandy. It’s not a matter of life or death. In most cases it’s played basically for the fun of it. But this life is a different story. Just like the game there is a beginning and an end. We are all born to live and we are all born to die. We can choose to live and die triumphantly or with much sorrow. We can put on the whole armor of God and be victorious (as stated in Ephesians chapter 6) or live an unprotected life of defeat. The past few weeks during our move I realized just how weak I’ve become. Lifting boxes and moving furniture revealed many a dormant muscle crying for help. For whatever reason, I withdrew from my workout routine and became occupied with other things. When I realized it had been four months since I’d stepped inside the gym, I crept in, hoping not to be noticed, and was barely able to do half an hour of elliptical and weights combined! That’s embarrassing! Each day I spend at the gym the stronger I will become, the less my muscles will cry for mercy and the better I’ll be able to fight. The same goes with my life. Each time I dress in the full armor of God (see Eph. 6:14-18), the stronger I become spiritually which enables me to defeat my enemies. No matter how big and mighty they appear; because I am a Christian they are no match to me. I will not be defeated. I am strong by the grace of my God and I am not a wimp. I bare His armor and am forever declared-victorious. Let’s Talk. Author, Terri Otterman