I remember being at a Passion Conference with our young adults years ago, and singing the Chris Tomlin song, "White Flag." It was an amazing song about surrendering to the Lord and yielding to Him. A white flag is a symbol of surrender. While we were singing, there were banners stretching across with little white flags waving above us. People were singing at the top of their lungs to the Lord. It was a powerful visual and an incredible experience to gather with so many other believers and worship Jesus with thousands of others who desire to follow Him.
"We raise our white flag
We surrender all to You, all for You
We raise our white flag: the war is over
Love has come, Your love has won."
When we become a Christian, we "surrender" our life and heart to God. In a sense, we give up fighting for our own way, and we learn to align our lives with the Lord and start learning to live according to God's way. Jonah is an example of someone who fought God's will (even though God told him exactly what to do) and literally ran from God in the opposite direction! There is always a struggle between our own selfish desires and submitting to God's plan for our lives.
Even though when we become a Christian, we DO stop fighting God, and His plan for our lives, the FIGHT is far from over. I want to remind you that we have an enemy, "...your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8) We have an enemy who does NOT want you to know that fighting is a part of living the victorious Christian life. Submitting to God is actually part of the fight: In James, we are told to submit to God, and to resist the enemy!
James 4:7
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
As I was thinking on this topic, I woke up early one morning and made a list of all the people in the Bible that I could think of, off the top of my head, that had fought battles. The number was surprising! In fact, it's hard to find a hero of the faith who has NOT fought a battle, whether it be physical or spiritual.
There are so many battles that the people of God have had to fight:
David fought Goliath, the lion, the bear, the Philistines, and many other physical battles! He fought the mental battle of fleeing from a king who wanted to kill him.
Abraham fought against the five kings. Joshua fought the battle of Jericho and against the Canaanites.
Esther fought against Haman’s plot to kill the Jews, her people.
Deborah and Jael fought against Sisera.
Nehemiah had to teach the people how to fight back while they were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem.
Daniel battled the lions in the lion’s den through prayer.
Gideon fought with only 300 men and the Lord gave the victory.
Moses escaped from the Egyptians and God gave the victory as the waters of the Red Sea came crashing down on them.
Joseph battled the pain, trauma, rejection and victim mentality that he must have had to fight to overcome at the hands of his own family.
In the New Testament, Mary battled the opinions of others and chose to be the Lord’s servant.
The disciples battled the spiritual forces of darkness and kept their testimony, even dying a martyrs death.
Peter battled fear, and physical soldiers.
Thomas battled unbelief.
The Apostle Paul battled the difficulties of life, being shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, left for dead, and so much more. And what did he say at the end of his life:
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Just about every person that we look to as an example in the Bible faced some type of threat: Physical, mental, emotional or spiritual, to their life or their faith in God. WE HAVE AN ENEMY. Therefore, we need to be ready for battle.
Jesus fought the enemy with the Word of God. And ultimately on the cross. Through His death and resurrection, He defeated our greatest enemies – sin, death, hell, and the grave. He overcame so that you can overcome. He conquered so that you can be more than a conqueror!
My point here is that fighting to flourish is a real thing! We fight with God's power against the enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
Ephesians 6:10-13
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
I want to encourage you that fighting is not passive, but active. Realizing that there is an enemy, and that we are in a fight, is half of the battle.
What does "fighting back" look like? Fighting back means choosing to reject passivity. Refusing to say, "There's just nothing I can do about it" and choosing to take one of the following actions:
Intentionally praying about your specific situation, when you don't feel like anything can or will change.
Doing something different, like writing out your prayer in a journal, or getting on your knees before the Lord, or fasting from television or social media for a determined period of time.
Looking up Scripture about what you're going through and writing the verses out and putting them where you can see them. Claiming them over your life.
Tell God out-loud, "I am choosing to trust You with this situation, but to be honest, I am really struggling."
Choosing to exercise faith in God: "God, I know that You are more powerful than any problem that I face. This problem seems really big to me right now. Help me to see the truth."
Rejecting wrong thoughts immediately, and choosing to set your mind on what is true, noble or good. Saying out loud: "I reject that thought, In Jesus' Name."
Resting in God. "God, I really want to get involved in this situation, but I am choosing to rest in You and trust that You are going to handle it in Your way and in Your time. I lay this situation at Your feet." Sometimes resting, or being still, is the hardest action to take.
Submitting or surrendering to God in a specific area of your life. "Lord, I need to submit to You in this area: ______________________. Forgive me for taking so long to get to the point of surrendering. I realize that surrender to You is one way I can fight back against the enemy."
You may say, "Michelle, how are doing these things fighting back?" It may not feel like it, but IT IS!!! We are not fighting an enemy that we can see. Our weapons are different. When you don't feel like fighting, that's the very moment that you really need to fight. The enemy can make us freeze up with fear when he is trying to attack us.
What are you fighting for?
Although our enemy is the same, we are all fighting for different things. Here are some that you may be fighting for:
Fighting to FLOURISH, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Fighting for victory in your personal lives.
Fighting to overcome strongholds or recurrent sins.
Fighting to get spiritually healthy and strong because your life impacts others such as your parents, your family, your kids, your spouse, or your future family.
Fighting for your faith in God!
Fighting for your future.
What you are fighting for is worth it! Something much bigger than we can see with our eyes is at stake.
Prayer Points:
Lord, I want to flourish in every area of my life, and I recognize that it all starts with submitting to You.
Father God, I recognize that I have an enemy. Please protect me, empower me, and help me to fight back, in faith, against his attacks to keep me living in Your will for my life.
Lord, teach me Your ways and how to depend solely on You and Your promises.
Father God,
I come before You in the victorious Name of Jesus Christ and I ask You to equip and empower me in my fight to flourish. I submit to You, and I resist the enemy, in Jesus' Name. I know that I am not alone, and You have not left me empty handed. You have equipped me with spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-18). You have empowered me with Your Holy Spirit and the Word of God, which is my sword. Please protect me with the blood of Jesus, and help me to have faith in You as I fight back against the attacks of the enemy. Help me to see the subtle ways that he tries to derail my life, through wrong thought patterns, and feeling like giving up. I want to experience true freedom and the abundant life that You offer, Jesus. Help me to honor You, and submit to You. Empower me through Your Holy Spirit to intentionally reject passivity and fight to live a life that honors You.
In Christ,
Michelle Staubs
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