THE BATTLE
A wise man once said Life is not a funfair but warfare, a popular Chinese actress once said that this life is for the brave.
Every day of our lives we are faced with different challenges, obstacles, happenings that want to sway our way from our God-given purpose and dream. God’s word says
“The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. “We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ”.
Life is indeed a battlefield but this battle we’re fighting every day is not a physical battle.
The battle is Spiritual and the battleground is your heart it’s your spirit that is where the battle is taking place. The kingdom of darkness wants you on their side. How do I know this?
Think about it, as a teenager, if you’re Christian you find that most of the temptations in this prime time of your life tend to draw you away from following the moral principles set by God.
For example, you know that smoking is bad and you don’t smoke but there are people in school, work or even at home who are continuously tempting you to do the one thing you don’t want to do, and it seems like they never give up.
They say “You’re not cool, you’re acting like a chicken, you’re a maniac” they might even go as far as threatening you.
This is the battle we fight every day and if you think you’re going through this alone I hope it’s a relief for you to know that you’re not alone.
No one, absolutely none is exempted from this battle. All will and must fight but the outcome of each challenge is determined by you.
Remember in our last article we said that Your destiny is in your hands. The choices and decisions you make today will determine where you will be in the next month, or year or decade.
God knew that the kingdom of darkness will be inconsistent contention for the souls of people so he gave us power over all the powers of the enemy and if you’re a Christian you understand that we are seated
“At his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come”
God has already made you a victor in all the challenges of life. It’s left for you to claim your victory.
One thing about us teenagers is that we most times like to hide our true personality, we don’t want our secrets out but there are 3 people you can’t lie to (1) God – Because he is all-knowing (2) The Devil – He’s been in this world before you so he literally knows a lot (3) You. – Because you know you more than anybody else does and that’s why you can’t lie to you.
Now you know there’s a battle going on and you also know that the only way for you to win is to be on God’s side which is the winning side.
You also know that the battle is in your heart and that the kingdom of darkness is contending for you.
Satan wants you on his side and so does God. And we also know that God has made us victors, but the battle’s not over yet so we must keep fighting.
If you want to be a conqueror in all aspects of life you start by making the Right Choices, not just good choices.
Every action is a product of a decision made from the mind
STORYLINE:
There was a man named Cain who had a brother named Abel, they grew from infancy to Adulthood together and they were loved by their parents. One day, they both went out to offer sacrifices to God and God accepted Abel’s offering but didn’t accept Cain’s. Cain was furious and killed his brother, this is what led to the killing.
Cain saw that his offering was rejected so he began to harbor feelings of resentment, jealousy, and hate towards his brother. He probably started asking questions in his MIND like “Why did God accept Abel’s offering and not mine? Is he more special than I am? Is it because he’s a field man and I’m not? So, God hates me this much? No, I can’t take it I won’t take it. I will show that brute of a brother what I’m capable of and I will prove to them all even God that he is nothing special.
This is a typical example of a battleground in the hearts and minds of people all around the world. This is the origin of hate, killings, jealousy, wars, and all wails of life – The Mind.
That is why God Said:”And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [a]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]”.
Christians who haven’t renewed their minds go through this challenge.
If we can win this battle at this point our lives will be transformed. Nobody just wakes up and causes a war NO.
They think about it in their hearts before it is executed.
As a teenager, if you can’t control your mind you can’t control your actions and if you can’t control your actions, you won’t be able to control your life.
Now, most people in Cain’s shoes would want to “snap out of it” They’d be like No! I can’t do this he’s my only brother if I harm him there will be consequences. Why am I thinking of this evil? What is wrong with me? Why do I suddenly hate the one who has done me no harm?
This is the battle. Cain never reviewed his decision but he just went on with it and killed his only brother, in the end Cain paid dearly for his choice. But what is Cain had thought about it and didn’t kill him? What if Cain had won the battle in his mind, he would have had a better ending than he did. Cain had two choices; To follow God or to follow the devil, it’s a pity he didn’t choose right.
Now it’s up to you. You can’t be neutral in this battle you have to take a side; you have to take a stand; you have to make a choice NOW.
You might think there’s still time that you’re only 12 you still have a long time to think about it. But no, time’s running out you never know what the next minute or hour or day or year will bring you, it’s the choices you make today that will determine where life takes you.
Over the course of time, there have been men and women who have taken several choices in their lives which they regretted till the day of their deaths and there have also been people who made choices that they enjoyed for not just their lives but for generations to come.
God said
“I am GOD, your God, and I’m a most jealous God. I hold parents responsible for any sins they pass on to their children to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation. But I’m lovingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments.”
Choices don’t just affect your life they affect all around you and they affect your generations to come. Before you make any choice in your life (I’m not talking about making a choice of what shoe to wear or what skirt to use or what phone to buy) but I’m talking about before you choose to dedicate your life either to God or to the Devil think about yourself, family and then generations to come.
Think this way if I do this How will it affect my life? Will it help increase my value to people and the society or will it just make me another threat to the people? What about my family? What about my generations yet unborn how will this affect them? What about God, what does he think of what this decision I’m about to take?
If people all over the world including YOU would ask yourself these questions before taking a major step in their lives it would change our world greatly.
