Developing the Warrior Within

Episode 20: How we handle ourselves in crisis shows who we really are. As we face a daily battle of good versus evil, are you ready for war? Let's talk about it.

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Hello, everybody. Welcome to the Dona Watson Show. I'm your host, Dona Watson. I'm just an average American Patriot who loves God, her family, her country. I try really hard to listen to God's voice. Sometimes I write stuff. Come with me, together let's explore this crazy experience we call life. Welcome to the show. Hello, everybody. Welcome to podcast 20. Can you believe it's podcast 20? I can't. This one is called "Developing the Warrior Within." I'm going to start with a quote from H Norman Wright that I came across. He said "Some people think that going through the losses or crises of life are the exceptional times. I see it differently. I see the times of calm as the exceptions. Life really is going through one loss after another, one crisis after another." Um , I read this this morning and it sparked a whole train of thought that I want to share with you today. And it revolves around the principle that it's how we handle ourselves in crisis that determines who we are. I've spent much of my life reaching for one goal or another. And the hard part, the challenge for me has always been to be content with where I am, even if I have a goal in mind. I always feel like I need to reach for the next thing, but how do we learn how to operate well while in a crisis? This is the other part of my thought. And that's by training. Life is full of crises and we need to learn how to deal with them. And we do that through training. Let's look at the life of a soldier for an example. To learn how to be an effective warrior, soldiers have to train a lot. I mean, just induction boot camp alone must be an ordeal. I did not go through the military. Those who did have my ultimate respect and gratitude, but my dad was in the Navy. I know friends who have been in the military and talking about boot camp and that intense time of training in which they learn how to think and act like soldiers. They have to relearn everything they know so that when crisis comes, when battles arise, their first response will be that of a soldier. But then say our soldier enters a period of conflict and they need to go to war. Even then, they're not fighting, fighting, fighting 24/7. The armies battle, they might fall back and regroup. Then they battle again. And then they regroup. Maybe they push forward. They battle again, and they regroup. What does a soldier do in between those battles? He's breaking down his weapon. He's cleaning it, checking it for malfunctions, restocking supplies and ammunition, basically getting ready for the next battle. You can't let your skills grow cold. You got to stay on the edge. You got to stay fresh. Our society has led us to seek out periods of solace and happiness and fulfillment. And the message that we often hear is that if you're not completely at peace, your life is somehow broken. But I would like to propose to you that in actuality, we are at war. The Bible tells us that our enemy Satan prowls around like a lion seeking, whom he may devour. He's always on the hunt, always looking for the next easiest victim that he can attack. And, you know, lions would much rather go for a lone lame gazelle than a bull elephant charging in their face. I'm working in my life to develop the grit and tenacity of that bull elephant rather than being like a lame gazelle, just trying to get by. And I invite you to join me. Let's become warriors, a force to be reckoned with in this battle of good versus evil that we find ourselves in every day. The book of Ephesians gives us a manual of sorts to tell us how to do that. If we go to the sixth chapter, I'm going to read verses 10 through 18. "Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation 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. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints." Those are really good words. It tells us exactly what we need to do. So will you join me? Together let's break down our kits and check our supplies. Let's gear up for war so that when the battle comes, we can meet it head on rather than limping away. Let's go to war. That's all I have for today you guys. I love you and God does too. Talk to you soon. Bye!