Resolve

In the military, we have a saying; “Train like you fight!” and I believe that’s all well and good except for one thing; Fighting for real is different.
Mike Tyson is credited with one of the best quotes illustrating what I mean – He said, “Everyone has a plan until they get hit ….then they fear and freeze.”
What a far-reaching statement. Somehow, when I think about Mike Tyson, the athlete, there was more to his training than simply coming up with a plan. Seems like he not only knew how to fight, but he also knew how to make his opponent forfeit his plans and basically forget his training.

That’s exactly the kind of enemy we have. Memorizing Scripture, proclaiming God’s promises, and praying until we’re blue in the face doesn’t work the way I thought it would once I get hit – then I’m disappointed, disoriented and discouraged.

We can’t go to God saying, "I have fought the good fight…until I got punched in the face."

This understanding should revamp how we live and how we disciple. It’s not just about devising a plan. It’s about developing resolve and a bounce back mentality that has to be punched to be proved.

Our resolve needs to be rooted in love. The world has devised a false dilemma: You're either a lover or a fighter. God says that lover's ARE fighters! The Bible doesn’t say that love is always happy, but it does say that love never fails. In this fight, you may think that Spiritual maturity provides the fancy footwork that can bob and weave, and avoid getting hit. Not true. The enemy knows this and simply waits until you're tired. The best thing is to develop a deep love for The God who knows what we go through. So even when we've been rocked: face-down on the canvas hoping for ‘some other way'. Love will help us position or hands to push ourselves back up off the floor, and stand up.

In Matthew 26:33 we see that Peter had a plan. He told Christ that even if everyone else leaves him, he would stay til the death (v 35). Jesus replied….Peter (and the others), you’re about to be punched in the face…and you’re going to tap out.
Yet, after Peter’s knock down, The Lord still received Him. He asked Him three times about his love…which I believe was speaking directly to his resolve, finishing each statement with “feed my sheep”….like saying STAY in the fight!

Here’s The Word:

1 Corinthians 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Our fight is not the kind where we get to mix it up for 3 minutes at a time, then rest for a bit. No! Way too often, our fights seem endless. In the midst of these punches, we start questioning everything - mainly the idea that God wants me to be happy and not fighting. Obviously, not true. God is not a throw in the towel kind of God. Circumstances that squeeze us, prove us, and prepare us for the next bout.

We’ve grown all too accustomed to looking forward to reward when the focus is resolve.

Look at the picture above. Tyson’s opponent looks like he’s in serious danger right? But He’s doing exactly what he should be doing. He has his protective gear, and he’s got his hands up to shield himself.
Look at Ephesians 6, where we read about The Whole Armor of God – we see our defensive/protective gear. The directive is not to throw punches, it’s to stand. The only striking weapon we have is God’s Word.

I close with this:
2 Corinthians 4:7-9 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Now, we stand and fight...but it's Christ; the undisputed Champion of the world, Who brings the total victory later. Don't give up.

In Him,
Cros