"This is how I fight my battles" appeared on the screen at Barefoot Church as I sang out with all my heart and raised my hands to feel the power of God. The song “Surrounded” by Michael W. Smith hit me right in the middle of my chest - it was a direct hit. I had no doubt that I was in the fight of my life - a spiritual battle. I had to take sides, love my child or judge my child. This time I wasn’t going to let Satan win!
I can't tell how many battles that I have been through in my life including adultery, divorce, job losses, bankruptcy, cancer, mental illness, twelve surgeries, my wife's brain tumor and a child who is transgender. But the straw that broke the camel back was when my youngest child struggling with life got in a car accident. After trying for years, I no longer could fight this battle on my own. I finally realized I was in a spiritual battle and I needed help.
This was going to be a battle that would display my true colors - my love for Jesus and how I treated others no matter who they are or what they do to me. To fight this battle, God had prepared me over the years, and I never realized it. He had trained me with His Bible and equipped me with a full suit of armor.
That's right, a full suit of armor forged through my very own painful experiences. And wouldn’t you know it? I have a child that has literally gone to battle. As a soldier in the US Air Force, my oldest Hannah has learned what it’s like to go into battle. She went in as captain of the high school cheer team and honor student and came out six years later as a staff sergeant in the Air Force, a survivor of five knee surgeries and challenges that most people don’t see until they’re in their forties. What a trooper! She and her husband Koty have a relationship with Jesus that I’m jealous of. Also, she turned me onto Ben Rector. Showed me how God is her rock. And when it comes to the battles that she faces in life, she never flinches as she takes them head on. She is my sunshine on a cloudy day. It was a day after the accident when Hannah spoke to Liam at the hospital about her Bible study and referred to following scripture;
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:10-18 
As Hannah spoke about God’s suit of armor, she explained that there was a reason that God didn't equip us with a plate to protect our back. Her words were "God has our back" or in Air Force terms "He's got your six." As she explained, there is no need for armor on your back, Jesus is behind us every step of the way, protecting us and holding us up even during our biggest battles and darkest hour. Hannah should know, she was a top dog in AWANA Bible quizzing, and now it’s paying off.
Train Up a Child. After hearing Hannah I realized that when God asked me to “train up a child in the way they should go” that I had trained my children with a full suit of armor. God then kept His promise of "when that child is old they will not depart from it." That's what I saw that day - my two children as adults trained up to follow Jesus no matter the circumstances that they encountered. It's HOW we fight the battle that matters most, and without God, my family would have been devastated trying to fight our biggest battle to date.
In the Bible, you can find all sorts of battles - even a wrestling match. In the story of Jacob, a strange man who shows up and wrestles Jacob until daybreak rudely interrupts his plans. At some point during this weird contest, Jacob realizes that he is wrestling God. And when God decides it’s time to end the match, he dislocated Jacob’s hip and demands to be released. And Jacob, in significant pain and not wanting to give up, replies, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” Genesis 32:26. This response clearly pleases God, who pronounces this blessing on Jacob: “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob [deceiver], but Israel [strives with God], for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed” Genesis 32:28. Jacob then limps toward his tense reunion with Esau with a weakened body and a strengthened faith. Having wrestled with God, he knows his prayers regarding Esau will be answered. It’s not a bad thing to want to wrestle with God especially when He interrupts our plans. Even if it takes Him dislocating one of our hips to get our attention. It’s then He will bless us with a new name. One that says we strive with God and with men that have prevailed. All we have to do is hang onto God until He blesses us.
Sometimes we have to experience the pain of love before we can see God in all His glory. At times, it may feel like I'm surrounded by the enemy, but I'm really surrounded by God and His love as with Elisha when he was in battle and surrounded by chariots of fire. "So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." Kings 6:17 Thinking that the chariots of fire were his enemy he prayed for God's protection against the evil one. Knowing Gods word and praying in time of battle teaches us be His soldiers. As with any army it's our choice as to what standing we will have in His ranks. "Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” Luke 16:10. The old adage “God gives us only as much as we can handle” goes both ways.
God will put us in charge of His armies if we are faithful. But before He does that He wants us to “pay our dues” - wash feet, scrub floors, hold open doors and be honest in all that we do. It’s then He will give us greater responsibility. I guess that’s why Jesus came as a servant and not an earthly king. He wanted to show us through a relationship with us like none other. To go to battle knowing we have an awesome God at my side. It’s reassuring to know that if we stay faithful in the small matters like a mustard seed, our faith will take us through large matters that can move mountains.
Speaking of faith I was reminded from a passage at church today that my mother taught me and lived by as she fought her battles. It definitely has helped me to fight my battles. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Psalm 23 It’s a passage that now gives me comfort in my most difficult times. "Thanks mom!"
As a Christian, the Trinity--God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit--are at the core of my belief. When I’m in a spiritual battle with Satan, it’s powerful to know that I have a Father that watches over me, a Son named Jesus as my mentor, and an advocate in His Holy Spirit who is my counselor and comforter here on Earth. I wouldn’t go to battle without them. It’s comforting for me to know that God’s trinity surrounds me with His love to protect me and that He has a plan for me. I just need to be patient each and every day as I wait for my marching orders. “That's how I fight my battles.”
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Song - Surrendered (How I Fight My Battles) by Michael W. Smith - Listen to music
Video - Put on the full Armor of God - Watch video Paul’s website Train up a Child -See website
"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." Ephesians 6:11
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