“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:12-20
A brother in the Lord reminded me one day Christ’s followers are in a SPIRITUAL BATTLE, but I shouldn’t have needed the reminder. The more I have followed Jesus, the more sold out I have been to the Lord and to ministry, the more I have forsaken the pleasures of this life and the dreams I once had for Christ, the more intense the battles I have experienced when it comes to Satan trying to stop me from doing my ministry work for the Lord. There have been times I have been so tired of the battle, so weary, so worn out, so utterly exhausted, that I have wanted nothing more than to just flat out quit. To walk right off the battlefield and leave it all behind. Ever felt tired of the battle?
My beloved long-time pastor and daddy in Christ who ministered in inner-city Savannah, GA, and Port Au Prince, Haiti, flying back and forth for about 14 years on a very regular basis, worked harder than I’ve ever seen a preacher work both behind the pulpit preaching and out among the poorest of the poor, the most broken, the most lost, the most hurting, the homeless, addicted, criminals, etc. He was utterly relentless. He handed out food, fixed cars, helped with personal issues, job issues, served in the tent cities of Haiti after the big earthquake, handed out clothing at an annual distribution, held in his arms the drunk, and on and on. He never slowed down. His loved ones and congregation had to force him on a cruise to keep him from going back to the church office which is what he would do on his usual vacations if given the opportunity. Of course, he found people on the cruise I’m sure to talk to about Jesus. Like daddy-in-Christ, like spiritual daughter. I don’t do too much slowing down either.
One of the last verses in the Bible I remember him referring to before he returned one day from Haiti, preached the next morning in Savannah, closed his eyes that night and woke up to be with the Lord was the first verse above. A reminder to those of us who are sold out to Jesus that we must not grow weary. That we need to put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and persevere, to keep following Him no matter the cost, for the glory of God, trusting the Lord to give us all that we need love and strength included to press on in pursuit of more of Jesus and of more telling the world about Him and loving and serving others in His name.
Feeling tired of the battle? Don’t run away. Don’t run off the battlefield. Seek the love and strength of the Lord, pray to God for wisdom and direction, and follow the Spirit of God however, wherever, to whomever He leads you. For the glory of God almighty in Christ, AMEN!