Battle

This morning when I woke up and saw that it was 5:20am, I decided to get up.  After going to bed at 8:30pm and sleeping almost all through the night, I figured 9 hours was more than enough!  I went into the guest room and picked up my reading of Joshua.  Now in chapter 10, I’ve started to wonder why this book was impressed upon me at the beginning of the year.  This book tells of battle after battle after battle for the Israelites.  This morning I was thinking, “this has no relevance in my life.”  Then I read Joshua 10:25, (in the midst of another battle with five Amorite kings) “Joshua said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Be strong and courageous.  This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.’”  Joshua is encouraging his army with these words and they struck me.  I face many battles everyday; battles with my sinful nature, selfishness, anger, impatience, disobedience, ungratefulness, temptation, not to mention the battles I fight on behalf of my children.  My life is a battlefield against an enemy who wants nothing more than for me to be afraid, discouraged, weak and defeated.  But Joshua’s words were the words that God gave me at the beginning of the year, “be strong and courageous,” and I love in chapter 10 how he highlights the power of God who defeats all the enemies that come up against us.  God has fully equipped us as moms to be victorious over the battles we daily face in raising children, creating a Godly home, and faithfully serving our husbands.  God has fully equipped all of us as followers of Jesus to be more than conquerors.  So don’t be afraid of the battles you currently face.  Stand up and tell the enemy that you’re not impressed!