The Battle—Shadow Boxing
Each new day in Christ is filled with hope and anticipation! Yet, at the same time many of us are fighting horrific battles. Battles we did not knowingly invite or were thrust into at the choice and hand of others. Nevertheless, they are our battles to fight. Or are they?
These battles are a small part of the over-all war being waged against God's people; via Satan's deceptive tactics. He is trying to get us to give up on ourselves and ultimately on God! He is a liar-period! He is also trying to get us to give up on each other! Not going to happen. When viewed through the eyes of faith, these struggles are more often than not; “shadow boxing”.
There is no war against good and evil-Jesus already won that one and sat down at the Father's right hand in Glory. There is no war between God and Satan. Never has been. That is Satan's illusion of grandeur.
See to it that you don't fall for the devil's hellish lie: greatness is measured by a fallen world's standards. It never will be. Neither money nor talent nor power defines greatness. Great people are people who love greatly.
In the midst of the battles (and shadow boxing), you/we will at times fail miserably. Papa's plan took that into account. Every failure presents an opportunity to bow low before His Holiness and to stand tall in His Grace. He gives up on no one! Real trust develops in the darkness during the battle and comes into view at the first light of the smallest victory.
In the midst: sometimes life makes no sense. When the weight of the battles seem UN-winnable; and the suffering in the midst seems random and over the limit, when your soul feels the weight of unbearable emptiness and fear, enter the struggle to trust. His Kingdom is in sight! Know this: through His Son and His Spirit their presence is always with you. And His presence will always be the deciding factor.
You'll discover in the battles, much more than you realize, it is about yourself being on the throne of your life. You'll see my strategy and plan working when you come to this awakening; you're beginning to hate your selfishness more than your unhappiness. But, I thought it was about demons and such. No, it is more about self being on the throne of my heart, instead of Jesus. That realization gets the real battle underway, the battle against my stuff, against my natural man. You'll know you've won when your spiritual inclinations reflect Jesus!
Finally, fear will try to overtake each battle. Don't acquiesce to fears insidious plot to quench His Spirit working mightily in your spirit and heart. Allow his perfect love to cast out all fear in the midst of each battle! Expect setbacks. But keep taking small steps toward HIS LOVE! Always remember; no one can thwart his plan, no one! Make this your battle cry; 'what times I am afraid, I will trust in you'!
In the grip of perfect love! Ron Ross
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