31 Days: Day 15- Thanking God He Is My Fighter
There is nothing worse than feeling vulnerable AND alone. But if it seems there is no one to defend and care for me when I am in danger, what else would I fee?
Yesterday, we thanked God that He is our Shield- that He encompasses us with His care and deflects the incoming arrows of the enemy. But that is not all He does for us. He fights for us. WHO is God? Our Fighter. WHAT does He do? He fights for us!
What this means, dear sister and brother in Jesus, is that we are NEVER alone. No matter what, we have a Fighter by our side. Our approaching enemy may be fierce and we might be out numbered. But we should not let our heart faint!
and shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory. (Deuteronomy 20:3-4 ESV)
Our Lord is a warrior with majestic power! I don’t know about you, but sometimes (or a lot of the time...) I forget that. Instead, I assume I have to fight all my battles alone, which causes fear, weariness, and discouragement. But all I need to do is watch my Lord fight FOR me. How grateful I am that He will do that.
"The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name. ... 'Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.' And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You; You send forth Your burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff. (Exodus 15:3, 6-7 NASB)
David, in Psalms, confidently requests God to fight his battles for him. He knows he is up against more than he can deal with, so he calls on the Lord, his Fighter, to do the warring.
Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help! Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, "I am your salvation!" (Psalm 35:1-3 ESV)
David KNEW what it meant for the Lord to win the battle. He experienced it as a youth when he defeated Goliath. Knowing the Lord was the Fighter gave him the courage in the first place to confront the giant. Just hear the confidence in David’s voice as he tells Goliath WHAT God will do and why!
Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, … that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand." (1 Samuel 17:45-47 ESV)
David was by no means the first man in Scripture that God fought for. The whole nation of Israel was in the land because the Lord had fought their battles for them and through them. How could we not love the Lord who fights for us?
For the LORD has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the LORD your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God. (Joshua 23:9-11 ESV)
The protection and provision the Lord gives demands our praise. He has dealt wondrously with us. How could we not thank Him for that? He keeps us from shame and He carries out His word. All our satisfaction can be found in Him.
The LORD utters His voice before His army; Surely His camp is very great, For strong is he who carries out His word. The day of the LORD is indeed great and very awesome, And who can endure it? ... "You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied and praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; ... "Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, And that I am the LORD your God, And there is no other; And My people will never be put to shame. (Joel 2:11, 26-27 NASB)
Life and its complications can make us feel outnumbered and out-matched. King Jehoshaphat was heavily outnumbered when a “great horde” of invaders were bearing down on him. But listen to the Lord’s response:
And he said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. (2 Chronicles 20:15 ESV)
The battle is the Lord’s and He fights for us. Every victory belong to Him. Let’s thank Him for each one.
Prayer
Thank You Lord that You are the same yesterday, today and forever. You are the same Fighter who battled for Joshua, for David, for Jehoshaphat, and for Your people. You remain my Fighter and my battles belong to You. Thank You for owning the battles, because I KNOW I would falter and fail.
Please forgive me for forgetting that my fights actually belong to You. I become weary trying to contend in the battles before me. Today, I give You full access to the front line of my life. I ask You to contend with those who contend with me as I stay safely behind You, my Shield. Thank You Lord that as You are victorious, the world can witness that You are God, and the church can know You save, not with physical weapons, but with Your own hand.
I am so grateful for Your proactive stance in my life. You go before me! You take my battles! You fight for me! Thank You my Jesus for decisive care. You are not a God who is far off, but One who is near and who protects me.
Thank You Lord that I am never alone. When I feel vulnerable and the panic rises, I can remember that You are my fighter and You never leave. No matter the situation, You are there. Therefore, I cannot be outnumbered or out-maneuvered.
Thank You that my battle is not mine. It is Yours. You are the Lord my God, and there is no other.
Amen
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 ESV)
But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. … Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done. Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult! (Psalm 64:7-10 ESV)
Dear one, I know some of you face fierce and daunting battles. You are not alone! Your Lord battles for you. Lean into the Lord, your Fighter, and let Him contend with the struggle.
If there is something I can pray for you, please let me know below.
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD. (Proverbs 21:31 ESV)
Do you know someone facing insurmountable odds? Then please share this post with them. When we love Jesus, we NEVER face a battle alone!