Moses gave many stirring words to encourage the people of Israel to take the territory the Lord had given them in Canaan. I had marked many of them in my Bible over the years. Since I write devotionals, I thought I would take a stab at encouraging myself with these words for warriors, inspiring words that would lift my spirit and help me go the extra mile in my faith. The words of courage are needed, for the land will not be taken lightly. The sins and weights that wear us down take time to dislodge and die to. But the Lord had promised them victory if they continued in faith and obedience that follow the principles laid down in the law that exalt the Lord above all. To those who fight the good fight of faith, here are words for warriors.
Get Up and Start Moving
“Yahweh our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying, ‘You have lived long enough at this mountain’ ” (Deut. 1:6).
You’ve been on the mountain-top long enough. You’ve pondered the promises and tucked in the teachings. It’s time to leave your high tower and venture into the plains where the blessings you heard of and believed in await you.
It’s easy to sing hymns on our hammock and read the Bible on your exercise bike. Now it’s time to exercise that faith in situations that make a mark on your soul and expand the territory of the Kingdom in your life. Make the decision that this day you will stand against the enemy in you that snickers at the salvation that Christ won in your life.
You have been shackled by guilt and shame to the same spot where the blood of Christ has set you free. Now you have been delivered from the tyrant of sin. Let it be your battle-cry: “Sin shall not have dominion over me.” You have a new Master who has bound the strong one to set his captives free.
Get out of your comfort zone and into the land of liberty. Those whom Christ has set free will be free indeed. It’s time to believe God’s Word and march into the field of battle. But don’t worry—you have a Conqueror who has gone before you and who has broken the enemy’s power.
It’s not by trying harder. It’s not by believing in yourself. It’s not by doing more. It’s by trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ. This way of thinking is not natural. It is supernatural. It’s a spiritual solution to a spiritual problem. The Holy Spirit is to teach you this new way of life. He is to be your ever-present life coach. He points you to the before-and-after snapshots in the New Testament, the old you who you used to be, and the new you that you now are. You are not trying to change your life but learning to live the new person He has already created you to be. You do the outward work of faith and obedience. He does the inward work of renewal. A new way of thinking, indeed.
