“Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a Lion or a Gazelle… when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”
Every day is a battle, but a 1/3 the battle is knowing. In my experience I can say I know there is a battle, but often I underestimate my opponent, or I get caught with my guard down. I constantly have to be reminded of scriptures like 1Peter 5
be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Another 1/3 of the battle is preparing. Do you prepare, if so how? Ephesians 6 describes how to prepare and what to guard.
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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
The last 1/3 of the battle is fighting. Are you? Seriously, are you? We are all in this battle, it doesn’t matter whether or not you want to be .There will be casualties, there will be losses, and there WILL be victories. Sin is inevitable, if your fight is to remain sinless you have already lost, let your goal be to finish the fight, in order for this to happen you must consistently learn from every battle you get in. You must be faster, stronger, and smarter than your enemy. Oh, and make sure you have your leader in front of you; remember John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” If you follow close you will overcome.
Aaron Mullins
