As You Head Off to the War...

"It started out as a feeling,
Which then grew into a hope,
Which then turned into a quiet thought,
Which then turned into a quiet word

And then that word grew louder and louder
Til it was a battle cry
I'll come back when you call me
No need to say goodbye

Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never
Been this way before
All you can do is try to know
Who your friends are
As you head off to the war "
- Regina Spektor, The Call

These lyrics from "The Call" are from the movie Prince Caspian. They made me think about the call that we have as Christians and the confidence we are given in our Saviour's faithfulness. Our faith is much like the progression in these lyrics, from the birth of hope to walking that hope out. We read God's word, we spend time in His presence, we feel His hope and our lives begin to radiate that hope. As we allow that hope to grow, our thoughts form to His and He plants seeds of faith, seeds of His purpose for our lives, seeds of life. As we allow those Godly thoughts to grow, as we hope in Him, we speak words of faith. Now once we come to the point of speaking out the Word of God, speaking words of faith, we are entering into war with the enemy.

Our words are powerful, our words can shape our lives and the lives of those around us for the better or for the worse. We can build up, or we can tear down. When we speak words of faith, those planted in us from God's word, from the heart of God, we are speaking out His destiny for our lives. Does your life ever feel like it's a battle? Mine does, especially when I set out to do the thing I believe the Lord is calling me to do. But it's that hope, that faith that resonates inside and propels me to push forward.

Who is with us as we go into this battle? We have to know that God is with us, all we have to do is say the word and He is there. He never leaves us or forsakes us. The second is that there are others heading out into this war with us. God gives us relationships that we are to nurture so that we build each other up and war for each other as we walk through this life. I am so thankful for the friends God has put into my life, we build each other up, when one is weary of the battle, another encourages and keeps our focus strong. We remind each other of where our hope lies, which is something we can forget if we isolate ourselves.

The life we are living is not mere coincidence - we have a call and a purpose. Recall those that have lived lives of faith before us, those who have had great impact in this world for the Kingdom of God, they lived lives of victory, but if they had victory, it means there was a contest to be won. Many times we only hear of accomplishments that people make in this life, but we have to realize that there was a journey toward those accomplishments. God gives us the tools to use, His word, His presence, relationships with each other. We are to use them all, we are to build each other up, we are to develop relationships - with God and with people. "All you can do is try to know who your friends are as you head off to the war..."

Our God is faithful. Our purpose is sure. Our victory is already won.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up." - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Beautiful New Day

"for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."

- Philippians 3:12

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. I was thinking about this upcoming new year, and praying about how it would be different from the past year - from the past years. How do I break free of the things that have been holding me back? Can I really accomplish the things I believe God has called me to? Then I came across this verse in my devotions, "it is God who works in you..." We have to do our part. We have to seek God, we have to step out in faith, we have to walk in the light of God's word, but it is GOD who works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose. That focuses my new year. That tells me that if I want to accomplish more this year, I simply have to seek the LORD more. It's no longer about me, but about relationship with God and allowing Him to work.

One of my favorite Christmas presents this year is a t-shirt that says 'Winning is for the birds." It's a fan t-shirt for the Philadelphia Eagles that I had seen in the movie Invincible. It's a play on the saying that something is "for the birds", which has a negative connotation. The reason I love it is because it takes the saying and makes it positive. (Side note - I hope the Eagles make the playoffs or Superbowl this year so I can wear it.) It reminds me to look for the positive in things. No matter how I feel, I might have failed in the past, or not lived up to my own expectations in an area, I have to remember that tomorrow is a new day. If I don't live it, it won't be written. God has purpose and plans for us, He loves us, He wants us to fulfill the lives He has for us out there.

To quote an old song, life is a highway, I want to ride it all night long... I can't wait for tomorrow, and I'll live today in great expectation of it. God is working. He is moving. He is changing me, so tomorrow I'll be different, tomorrow I'll be more like Him, tomorrow is a beautiful new day full of what God has on this road I'm on. Not all of it is fun, some of it I just won't ever understand until I get to heaven, but I know God. I know He works all things for good to them that love Him and are called according to His purpose. I will rest in Him. I will look forward to a beautiful new day.