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Life Is A Battle.... But


Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:10-12)

          Life is a battle. I have friends, and friends of friends, who are being forced to face this reality a little more than some others. Some of them are facing physical challenges. Others are facing relational challenges. It’s scary to admit, but I’m beginning to think I’m facing some battle, too. I thought I was doing pretty well. My attitude has been comparatively positive as I’ve faced some minor problems, but the reason I started reading E.M. Bounds on Prayer is because I think I’m missing something in my relationship with God. 
          For the past two years in Florida, my morning walk was as time of intercession. When I return to Erie, the intercession just doesn’t work. I can’t seem to focus even though I’m walking past houses belonging to people I prayed for in Florida. My walks in Erie have been more meditational prayer times. I love talking to God about ideas. This year, however, I haven’t been walking. I still pray, some. There are people for whom I am praying now, with more direction than I do when I’m in Florida, but generally, I’m not praying the way I probably should be. 
          It’s amazing, and pathetic, how little it takes to defeat my prayer life. Change locations, change routines, or introduce some pain, and it’s in ruins at my feet. Of course, I’m only assuming it wasn’t in ruins at my feet when I was doing my “best praying.” That’s the devil’s side of the picture.
          I suspect God’s perspective is a little different. While I’m sure He sees my prayer life – even the best of it – as pathetic, those ruins are in the way of the building of a much better house of prayer. Even the stones that have crashed to the ground may be useful to this Architect. If I’m wrong, it might be that He doesn’t even see ruins. When I see a wall that would fall if a fox jumped on it (Nehemiah 4:3), God may see part of a foundation of a wall that will protect thousands. 
         I need to remember that life is a battle. It’s not that life includes battles, it’s that life IS a battle. I wish I were more of a battle strategist, but I suspect that when it seems to me that I’m defeated (especially by comparative nothings) it’s then that I am poised for a victory, if I would only remember to use my armor and weapons (Ephesians 6:12-20), including prayer. It’s when “nothing” is happening that I need to be most on my guard.
        A song comes to mind: When You're Up Against A Battle... (No matter how small) 

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