“Thorns in Your Side”

Judges 2:1-4 (NJKV)

¹ Then the Angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: “I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you.

² And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this?

³ Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side,^[a] and their gods shall be a snare to you.’”

⁴ So it was, when the Angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voices and wept.

These were the consequences of the sin and idolatry. The children of Israel finally got to this Promised land, but they didn`t obey God. The whole book of Judges gives us an account of their idolatry as a result of their disobedience to God. He told them initially to drive all the surrounding nations out and destroy them because God knew the wickedness of human hearts and our weaknesses. God knew that if Israelites didn`t drive those nations out, they would succumb to their fake gods, which is exactly what they did. As the time went on, we see Israelites worshiping all these foreign worthless deities while they forsook the real God; the One who delivered them out of Egypt, the One Who provided for them all the time.

When God tells us to do something or commands not to do something, there is a good reason for it, and it sure is for our own benefit. God specifically said that regardless how harsh it may sound, you are not to share the Promised land with the inhabitants of that area, period. Israelites didn`t fully trust God`s deliverance as they tried to blame the “chariots of iron” (Judge 1:19). Here they are, in the Promised land with God as their strength, but they didn`t trust enough God to fight the “chariots of iron”, so they made this claim that they were too strong for them to fight and drive out of the area.

This is a very important principal that I learned for myself: when God tells in the Bible, or in His communication with me, to stay out of something or someone, there is a good reason for that. I remember the days when I was drinking almost every day, getting wasted, and I would skip school, and get bad grades; I would get really sick, yet I continued to do that over and over again until I got into some pretty serious problems. That really shook me up from my “lala land”. I stopped drinking, but I was too weak to resist the temptation until I cut out certain people out of my life because they were too great of a temptation for me.

This is exactly why when we get saved, our “old ways” of living, have to go and we have to leave behind desires of the flesh that we did or people that we hung out with. It is impossible to resist the temptations otherwise, and we end up succumbing to blasphemy the name of the Lord since most of the time our old friends mock God, and make fun of God. We can either cut them off, or we can play off what they are really saying. By doing the later, we reject God and embrace the lies of satan to live an “old” sinful life and blasphemy the name of the Lord. God is too Holy to coexist with sin or to compromise with our own fleshly desires to live. It`s either His way, or no way.

There is no value to the repentance if no change follows. The children of Israel wept, brought their sacrifices, but they didn`t change their ways: they didn`t drive out the idolatrous nations who led them to worship their idols (verse 4). What`s the point in weeping if it doesn`t produce obedience to God. All it is is self-pity that they had “Oh I`m in trouble now because God brings all these nations against me”, and He did. As we see in the further verses, God said:  

¹¹ Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals;

¹² and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the  land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger.

¹³They forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.^[c]

¹⁴ And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.

¹⁵ Wherever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for calamity, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed. (Judges 2:11-15 NKJV)

The Israelites “forsook the Lord God of their fathers”. This is crucial part of the scripture to engrave in our memory. I don`t ever want to forsake what God has done for me and continues to do. I forsook Him for awhile, and I forgot what He`s done for me throughout the last 20 years, and it brought some “thorns to my side”.

It also brings an interesting point of the older generation of Israelites not teaching the new generation about God. To me that`s just strange since they had the feasts where one of them was Passover telling all about their exodus out of Egypt, so it is weird to read that newer generation forsook the Lord and how He led their fathers out of the Egypt. Don`t be like one of the Israelites who didn`t teach the next generation about what God`s done to you, so your children know God. I like how one of the pastors said: “God doesn`t have grandchildren”. It doesn`t work that way; God desires to have that personal relationships with each one of us and to be a Father to each one of us, no grandparenting in His relationship hierarchy. The reason why grandparenting wouldn`t work is for the same reason as we see in the verse 12 where “they forsook the Lord God of their fathers”. We don`t really value what God does to others if we don`t have that personal relationship with Him, so for us humans, only personal knowledge of God as a Father would work.  

¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your^[d] works, and I will show you my faith by my^[e] works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O

foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:17-20 NKJV)

In other words, what James is referring to is believer producing vivid visible effects of Chris`s work in one`s heart as a result of salvation. If I am a believer, and I am saved, than I am supposed to produce results of my faith in Jesus Who died for me. If my life doesn`t produce much fruit (like I mentioned in one of my other articles), it doesn`t testify that I am a true believer. To produce fruit requires change in the way I live my life. In the scripture from Judges we see that God doesn`t coexist with the way we desire to live. God commanded Israelites to drive out other nations to cut out all possibilities for idolatry, and Israelites disobeyed the commands.

God doesn`t compromise with our ways of life. He told Israelites that all those nations that they didn`t drive out and destroy would become like “thorns on your side”. If I live in sin, that sin would become a “thorn in my side”, and only I would know the extent of that pain.

If you live your life trying to make God coexist with “the neighborhood nations that were supposed to be driven out and destroyed” (your old ways of life), He would turn those “nations” (your flesh desires and living) into the “thorns in your side”. Look into your life and check to see if you got some “chariots of iron” that you think you are not capable of driving out because God is Almighty, and He is capable to supply all kinds of resources and equipment for you to be able to conquer them as long as you are truly longing that in your heart for God to see.

Where is My Help Coming From?

Isaiah 30:1-3

1 “Woe to the rebellious children,” says the LORD, “Who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;

² Who walk to go down to Egypt, and have not asked My advice, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
³ Therefore the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame, and trust in the shadow of Egypt shall be your humiliation.

Isaiah 31:1-3
¹ Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!

 ² Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster, and will not call back His words, but will arise against the house of evildoers, and against the help of those who work iniquity.
³ Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, both he who helps will fall, and he who is helped will fall down; they all will perish together.

This is one of my favorite books in the bible—Isaiah. God used this book to get through to me many, many times. As I was reading one of the devotionals, I came about this scripture, and I realized that I have to share the importance of this passage. It is crucial to realize this principle because so many times, I, myself, went for help to my friends, family, instead of seeking His help first. In the Bible Egypt represents one`s “old sinful life”-slavery to sin where each one of us lived before we got saved. When someone relies on one`s old ways: old friends, old resources, one goes to “Egypt” for help; this is contrary to what God commands us to do.

If I am saved, I should have my faith on Him only because He would provide for me a way where there is no other way for He is Jahovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14). He provided a way for Abraham to bring an alternative sacrifice to his son Isaac, and He always provides a way when we see no way. He is Almighty God Who created heaven and earth. I don`t know how about you, but I don`t ever want to be in a situation where I rely on “Egypt”, or seek help place else aside from Him.

What this scripture is saying: Are you yielding to God your own will, so He could do what`s right and needed; or are you seeking your own will, and relying on Egypt because it`s the easiest and most rational thing for you to do?

When I faced the worst betrayal in my life, I wanted to find an easy formula to fix everything, and I would turn to the counselor, and to the pastor`s counseling, and to people, and to some “old friends”, but all that was vanity because it was seeking my own will, and not His will. The truth is, people (especially unsaved people) cannot advise you anything that`s Godly because they don`t know scripture, and Holy Spirit doesn`t abide inside their hearts. If the advice is not scripture based and rooted in God`s obedience, which would be to seek Him first, the advice would never be a blessing or produce any kind of positive effect in circumstances. The only way to get pass the afflictions is to surrender to His will all your circumstances and rely completely on what He would tell you to do. It took me almost nine months to realize that. It wasn`t until my pastor told me to seek Him first that I made that decision because I was hopeless, disillusioned, and I had nothing else to lose. By then I`ve tried everything else, and it didn`t work. There is no other easy formula for relationships, or for any other problems because only God can bind up the wounds (Psalm 147:3). I remember my frustration when I would come out of the counseling and hear nothing that God could really apply to my life because it was ungodly advice not rooted in His scripture or His will. It cost a lot of money too.

Do not rely on “Egypt” because God doesn`t bless us when we turn to the wrong resources and seek help place else instead of coming to Him first. “Egypt” may seem to you the most rational thing to do—“who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD” (verse 1), but that`s not what God`s will is. God wants all the glory, and when we turn to the worldly resources that seem most rational to us, we tell God that He is incapable to resolve my problem, and we rob Him of His glory. It could be that your pride doesn`t allow you to accept His will because it requires the sacrifice of laying down your life and surrendering yourself to Him too.

²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny

 himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24 NKJV)

I chose to follow Jesus and took up my cross because I knew that He would bless me, and He does. God would never bless ungodly advice or something that contradicts His own words- Bible. I could either let Him beat me up some more with circumstances until He got what He needs from me—my life, or I could surrender to God and let Him use me to show His glory. That`s what I did, after almost 9 months of fighting with Him, I surrendered to His help instead of relying on those “strong horsemen” because they are vanity, the same ashes as me. God blessed me beyond my comprehension because He is faithful, and He is working through my circumstances now resolving all the problems. It required my sacrifice first, but His help is there, and He sustains me every day.

If you live your life relying on “Egypt” because there are “many chariots” and the “horsemen are strong”, I am challenging you today to rethink your priorities and turn to the main resource- God the Almighty, Who would bless you to no end. It would require a steep price on your part—your life and yielding your will to His, but it`s all worth it. I`ve been there, done it, and I am blessed!

Knowing Him is All He Desires

Hosea 6:1, 6

 ¹ Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

⁶ For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

The story of the prophet Hosea is a powerful story of God`s mercy and redemption. He told Hosea to go and buy himself a harlot to be his wife. People were adultering before God by worshiping other idols, building temples to them, and doing all kinds of immoral things. God`s jealousy for His righteousness rose, and He sent Hosea to show the example of His love to His people, so they could hearken to Him and repent before the judgment would come upon them.  The whole book of Hosea claims a message from God: “for I want mercy and not your sacrifice” meaning that God wanted His beloved people to turn to Him, so He could show them His mercy, and love, and spare the disaster of judgment.

I never really understood the circumstances in my life until He showed me that I was just like them, His people, who continued to go astray idoletrying left and right by worshiping other idols (I had other idols- my looks and the power that I had when I used them, people that I relied on to get me through the specific situations/circumstances, independence, pride). All those things are idols, and He knew that until He shatters them, I could never fully turn to Him. I was unconscienly selective of what to trust Him with and when. I was used to being a fighter taking care of things for no one did that for me otherwise. I was weary of all the burdens I had to carry for others and wished I had someone do that for me for once. God showed me that His yoke is light if only I fully trusted Him, and He placed me in situation where I had no other choice but to do just that (Mathhew 11:28-30). God never does anything without a bigger purpose, and His will is only for the better. I only wish I understood that sooner to avoid the pain that I go through.  God had to put me through trials in order to show me how insignificant my desires were compare to His will on my life.

I like how Oswald Chambers put it:

“If all you see is a shadow on the face of the Father right now, hang on to the fact that He will ultimately give you clear understanding and will justify Himself in everything that He has allowed into your life…

Will He find the kind of faith that counts on Him in spite of the confusion? Stand firm in faith, believing that what Jesus said is true, although in the meantime you do not understand what God is doing. He has bigger issues at stake than the particular things you are asking of Him right now…”

It took me awhile to understand why certain things happen. Now I know that “He has bigger things at stake” even if it doesn`t comply with my desires, and it shouldn`t if I committed my life fully to Him. Once I realized that I have nothing left to lose, as He exposed everything that I ever relied on besides Him (my path of idoletry), I realized that all I want is to see His glory. I want to be like Moses when he came down from the mountain and his face was aglow from talking to God (Exodus 34:29-31). I asked that of Him many years ago, and He reminded me so many years later of the conditions for that; there is a big price attached to that—my complete surrender to the Utmost High.

God destroyed everything in my life that had fake value attached to it, and casted away my idols, so He could come and fill my heart completely because it`s the only way how He would be able to take me to that “mountain” where Moses saw Him face to face.

I returned to the Lord once and for all because He exposed all my idoletry and brought me face to face with what I became over the years driving further and further away from Him. He has “torn”, so He could scrub me off all that dirt, and now He is healing me. He had “stricken” me by destroying all the things I ever held dear to me (I went through the worse betrayal by the closest friend I had), so he could show me that He is the number one in my life and not anyone else.  

This story of the prophet Hosea is a mighty story of redemption showing how much God`s love is unconditional towards us. He did not spare His Son, Jesus, only so we could have that access to Him and those close precious relationships. I was committing idoletry by placing things over Him, and it is the worst sin of them all—worshiping idols as He confirmed it yet again in the New Testament:

³⁰ And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’^[a] This is the first commandment.^[b]

³¹ And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’^[c] There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31 NKJV)

When we reject to give up things we like, pleasing our flesh, we worship idol gods, and we sin against our Lord. I was like a harlot living in adultery by placing other things and people over Him, but He showed me His love, His mercy, and reached out His hand to lift me up from that bottomless pit.

If you are weary, and hopeless, and you don`t feel anything anymore, know that I felt all that and even more, but when I realized that the only way out is by searching Him, He was there to be found. He turned the meaning of my life around and gave me that hope, strength, and love for others that I lost. If you are exhausted, you should look into your life and see if there is anything or anyone who you esteem over Him to cast away those “idols” and stop your “adultery” because “He desires mercy” and knowledge of Him. He is a jealous God, and He would never share His glory with anything or anyone else.

Rivers of Living Water and Bearing Fruit

John 7:38 (NKJV)

³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

John 15:5-6 (NKJV)

⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

⁶ If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:5-6 NKJV)

This is how it works: once one`s heart is given to the Lord and completely surrendered, God clears all the dirt out through the circumcision of the heart using appropriate circumstances in one`s life. Once all that is scrubbed out, God fills one`s heart with His love, His life, and His rivers of living water flow into the lives of others baring "much fruit".

It is the same principle as when growing a beautiful garden. In order for the flowers and trees to fully bloom or produce fruit, they require manure, a very stinky soil treatment in order to enhance and enrich the soil itself.  The way it translates into our lives is by God placing some “stinky” and painful circumstances in one`s life in order to enrich that “soil” in one`s heart, so one could produce fruit for His glory. I had a lot lf “manure” dumped on me (Apparently my soil was that barren), in order to start producing fruits of the Holy Spirit.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25, NJKV)

It is a lie if someone told you that you can live your own selfish life and produce fruits of the Holy Spirit at the same time. God is a Holy God, and He would never compromise His standards with our own carnal selfish nature. He requires that complete surrender on our part to His will in order for Him to do that work in one`s heart to bring forth fruit. I was trying to combine both for awhile, and all I got was failure in both because it is impossible to have joy, love, peace when I think about my own interests and desires. Selfishness can never produce these fruits. As a Christian, I am obligated to bring forth that fruit; otherwise, there are consequences for those who do not abide in Him—they are “cast out as a branch and withered’ and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned (John 15:6)

What Jesus talks about here is hell which is a real consequence for those who reject God. If I live my life calling myself a “Christian”, and I don`t produce “much fruit”, I would be cut down and burnt. When I was rebelling against God, he showed me the scripture that once and for all made me grateful for God`s mercy and patience with which turned my life around for Him.

⁷ Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’

⁸ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

⁹ And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that^[a] you can cut it down.’ (Luke 13:7-9 NKJV)

I had God`s mercy to give me one more year to bear fruit for His glory before I was to become one of those “Untouchables” that I described in my other article who are left alone to sin until they can take it no more. God was gracious enough to give me one more year, and I got lots of “digging around and fertilizing” dumped on me to get me to change my ways. When I look at my heart now, I can honestly say to God: “here I am Lord; only,You, can use me and do whatever You want with me” because I want that “flow of the living water” pouring out of my heart effecting lives of others. That unconditional love that I`ve been praying for in the last month finally filled my heart because I allowed God to cleanse me and wash me through the heart circumcision process. I feel this flow of the living water that I can share with others because I feel God`s real power in my life. He`s done the impossible: He is binding up my wounds; He showed me the principle of forgiveness and taught me how to forgive, so to be forgiven; He filled my heart over again with His love and His presence.

The ultimate goal of our existence and creation is to bring glory to Him. That`s why each human being or any creation was brought up to this world. When I go astray and disobey my ultimate goal “to bring glory to Him”, I get repercussions because disobedience is a sin and sin always produces repercussions.

Are you living the way that produces “much fruit” and has your heart bringing forth “rivers of living water”? You should examine your heart because if that`s not the case, there is that God`s patience that can give that “another year” to bear fruit just like He did with me, but if not, there will be repercussions.

Are You Willing To Be That "Mighty Man"?

2 Samuel 23:8-23 (NKJV)

⁸ These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-Basshebeth^[a] the Tachmonite, chief among the captains.^[b] He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time. ⁹ And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo,^[c] the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. ¹⁰ He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder. ¹¹ And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. ¹² But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory. ¹³ Then three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁴ David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. ¹⁵ And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” ¹⁶ So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD. ¹⁷ And he said, “Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.  ¹⁸ Now Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of another three.^[d] He lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three. ¹⁹ Was he not the most honored of three? Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to the first three. ²⁰ Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a nowy day. ²¹ And he killed an Egyptian, a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. ²² These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men. ²³ He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.  

There is a very important principal that`s shown here when we see these mighty brave men surrounding David throughout his surviving years and later on throughout his years as the king over Israel. The principal is this: God always provides defense for those who rely upon Him. David in all of his days walked close to the Lord, and he knew where his hope should have been. His heart was for the Lord, and so when Saul was persecuting David, and he was all alone, he had all these people who came to him, 400 of them, and they rooted for each other protecting each other. Those men were with David throughout many wars and persecutions, and David trusted them with all his life.

¹ David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. ² And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him. (1 Samuel 22:1-2 NKJV)

The reason why it is so important to understand this principle is because it works, and it is a powerful tool during the hard periods in one`s life. The main resource that God`s got is humans, it`s us, and that`s what He uses when He needs to get something done, to get through to someone, to protect someone, or to reach someone.  There`s been miraculous stories recorded in the Bible where in case with Balaam his donkey started speaking to him to reiterate the will of God since there was nobody else around, or in case with Moses, where God revealed Himself through the burning bush, and we know of other stories. However, by most part, God uses humans, and when He needs to reach someone in this world, He sends someone.

When we look at the life of David, and how he walked with the Lord, and always seeked what was right in His eyes, we see a mighty Hand of God protecting him and sending him the right resources in the right moment.  David was persecuted by Saul, and he was hiding in the caves moving around to escape Saul`s searches for him. I am sure he was praying at that moment asking God for some help because Saul was a king, and he had army going around with him in searches for David. So we see that God provides David with this heavy flow of men who were just as desperate and had nothing left in their lives. It`s interesting how God calls to service only those who have nothing left for them; their lives are empty, and so they see God as this new hope and are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to stand up for Him. When I come to God and ask Him to use my life as  that “vessel”, I know that I have nothing left in this life for me, and the only joy that there is by serving Him. Here I am, Lord, send me. So we see these “distressed” and those who were in debt, and discontented, they came to David.  

These men stuck with David through all the tough times, and some got killed, but than in 2 Samuel  23:8-23, we see the accounts of those special 37 warriors and how they stood out of the rest of the 400 or any other king`s soldier. They were trained and disciplined to be able to do all those things they did in the battle field. As Christians, we are in the constant battlefield, and we have to train ourselves and discipline ourselves to be those brave and mighty warriors to conquer the world for God. God is longpatient and longsuffering, so that none dies but He waits to see if we repent and come to Him. I want Him to conform me into His image and to discipline and to chastise me when I`m going astray, so I could stay on the right course and finish my race for Him.

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. (Galatians 5:16-17 NKJV)

As Christians we live in a constant battle against our flesh, and it is through this constant discipline and spiritual  “military training”- reading the word of God, praying, seeking God, we can win this every day battle and to be used as a “brave man” to serve different “Davids” that we meet in our lives.

¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,^[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all

perseverance and supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:12-18 NKJV)

It is important to realize that our battle is not against the flesh and blood but against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,^[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (17). We have to be equipped and to be strong in the Lord in order to fight this battle. It took me awhile to realize that I have to fight this battle in my life with the proper armor and to be in proper shape and not to concentrate on what I see in the physical world because that`s not what`s important. Our physical outcome is the product of the spiritual battle.

What Paul is saying is that in order to be a good athlete, a mighty warrior, a brave man, you have to be in shape. The only way to be in shape is through giving up your life to God completely, by studying His word in and out, and by having relationships with Him like never before. He is conforming us into His image, and that is a lifelong process.

I am in situation where only God can perform a miracle and change my circumstances to reach my husband and change his heart. I am desperate, and I battle every day crucifying my flesh not to say hurtful angry things to him when I see his selfishness, not to do something nasty to him, and it`s hard because it`s a natural reaction to prove right. That is no God`s way, and I am reminded of that every day. Every time I crucify my flesh and take the blow by turning my other cheek, I protect Jesus and take the blow for Him instead. When I look at circumstances and at my life as a whole, I realize that there is nothing left for me to fight over. That is satan`s lie, and he would love it if I believed him, and I did for some time. God`s plan is different though, He wants me to see the importance of each one`s life and the way it is precious to Him that He gave His own Son, Jesus Christ, so that each one of us could have eternal life and be able to serve Him.

God is not going to use those who are half way in and half way are still lingering at their carnal world surrounding us every day. He wants us completely. I gave up my life to Him over again three months ago, and I don`t regret it. I`ve seen His hand in my life in a mighty way: He healed me from two serious diagnoses, He provided for me financially when I had nothing, He gave me strength to battle for my family and for my life, and to forgive the unforgivable. I pray every day asking Him to fill my heart with love for those who wronged me, and I know that He is there for me. God binds up my wounds, and He heals my heart.

God always sends His mighty men into one`s life when it`s needed to support or to encourage. I am blown away how I randomly meet people to get me through the specific circumstances; people that I never met before, or heard off. He is God who provides in situation when there is no other possible way out. He is Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14) because He provides for us a way when we don`t see a possible way out.

When I read this passage, and how brave these men were for their king David, how loyal and devoted they were, I realize that I have a way to go to become one of them. I have to train myself to be loyal to my family, even when they don`t deserve it, I have to be loyal to God, and I have to battle this spiritual war even when I don`t see the results as yet because I serve Almighty God who already WON for me all those battles.

Are you willing to become God`s warrior and to be one of those mighty men (one of 37 like in David`s case or one of the 400) that God would be able to prepare, train, and discipline to make that stand for Him to change lives of others. I want to be one of those special “vessels” that God could use for His glory because it`s what He created me for—to bring glory to Him!

If you want to serve God and to give your life to Him like never before, you can pray the following prayer with me:

Dear Lord, Almighty God, You are the Warrior, and You already won the main battle when Jesus died and rose again for my sins, so I could come to You at any moment and have fellowship with You. Please change me, use me, forgive me for all my selfishness, and show me how to abide in You forever. Please, Lord, make me into this "mighty man", so I could be used to serve “Davids” in my life to bring glory to You. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.