I am constantly at war....and I fail to recognize it. I move in and out of my days seemingly oblivious to the chaos and insanity that surrounds me...I appear to ignore challenges, dares, attacks, defeats, and even victories - is this ignorance or is it stupidity?
I am constantly at war...and I struggle. I seek two masters - earthly satisfaction and the Lord God Almighty. Ironically the order of these two masters trumps English grammar. The actions of my behavior must be allowed to speak...despite any effort of my own to silence them.
I am constantly at war...and I fail. I fall - defeated. I lie in my own blood and dismembered self. I fail to act. I act and fail. Sometimes I sit and let the defeat overtake me without putting up a fight. Sometimes I fight in vain...which doesn't appear to be a fight at all. Regardless, it is in the end - after the defeat appears to have been completed - when defeat truly triumphs. Where self rejects hope. Where self rejects grace.
I am constantly at war...and I need not feel utter defeat.
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." -Ephesians 2:4-10
I am constantly at war...and my struggles will produce perseverance.
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." -James 1:2-4
I am constantly at war...and I will be victorious by the power and the glory of Jesus Christ.
"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." -Philippians 2:9-11
I am constantly at war...
