The Art of War – Judges 3:1-2

1 These are the nations that God left there, using them to test the Israelites who had no experience in the Canaanite wars. 

2 He did it to train the descendants of Israel, the ones who had no battle experience, in the art of war.

– Judges 3:1-2

The Art of War

Are you battle-tested?  Have you come out victorious after being attacked by the enemy?  Have you seen first-hand, the power of God – working through you – to defeat the devil's plans to destroy you, your family, your future?  If you've lived as a Christian for any amount of time, I'd venture to say that you have . . . but do you know that you have?  Do you recognize and understand that what you've walked through was a spiritual battle?  A testing?  A scar to remind you of the fight and the victory?

Those scars, the healed-over marks that were once gaping wounds in your life, are the experience you need to do battle in the future.  They serve as training for the next test, which will certainly be tougher and more difficult to endure than the last one, or ten, or 20.  They give you the "street-cred" to make the enemy have to re-strategize his plan of attack because he knows that you have God on your side, but most important . . . that you know you have God on your side.

Your understanding of Who God is and the relationship you've built with Him is the key to mastering the art of spiritual warfare.  God has purposefully allowed the enemy to take up camp all around you – in your neighborhood, at work, in your family, even at church so that you can become strong in Him, and weak in your own ability.  He needs to get you to a place where your fiercest battle posture, is one of surrender; your mightiest weapon, is brokenness; and your mightiest war-cry, are three whispered words . . . Lord help me.

The art of God's war through your life is total and complete dependance on Him.  Where the deepest scars you carry are the ones on your knees that are in a constant state of healing over.  Your continuous prayer, to Him, in all things, in every situation, are the armor-plating you need to win the day.  His Word, open and always present in your heart and on your lips, is the baddest weapon ever seen on this earth.  His Holy Spirit, living, and breathing in you, is a guaranteed victory over any enemy, anywhere, any time!  God!  Abba-Father!  El Shaddai!  El Elyon!  Yahweh!  Yahweh Jireh!  Yahweh Nissi!  Yahweh Shammah!  No matter what you are facing God is there for you, ready to come through . . . IF you know the battle strategy.

The battle is God's, but He needs you to know, and understand, and have faith that He brings victory!  He settles disputes!  He provides the way!  He is life abundant!  No other way – just His way.  THAT's the Art of War and  THATs the road to victory!

Prayer

Father thank You for the victory!  Thank You for fighting our battles when we let You.  And thank You for the testing Lord, because it's in the testing that we can see how really big You are.  Forgive our unbelief and our attempts to fight without You Lord.  Help us to remember that our strength, our hope, and our very lives are in and with and for You Lord.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard