The battle is not to be good, or look good or feel good.
The battle is not achieving a version of life that you have imagined, been told or been sold.
There is a war that is waging and it is more than just between you and your expectations.
The battle is for souls: lost souls, happy souls, good looking souls, sad souls. Unredeemed souls that the enemy would like to keep unredeemed at all costs.
Unredeemed souls that have already been paid for by the great cost of Christ’s on the cross, they just don’t know it yet.
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ”
2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV
For those who are redeemed, the battle is set to destroy your light, bit by bit, by turning the focus from God to what you don’t have, what you used to have or what you wished you had.
In other words, to keep the focus all on yourself so you will be rendered useless and powerless as a warrior of the light.
“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5 NIV
When was the last time you talked to someone about what God was doing in your life instead of what you are doing (or not doing) in it?
The battle is fierce. When you recognize what the real battle is- you are able to really engage in it, instead of being a victim of it. God did not redeem you to be a victim.
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV
He created you to be an image bearer, He redeemed you to be light revealer,
He has empowered you to be a cross-carrier and gospel bringer.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV
How will you reveal God’s all-surpassing power in your life today?