Have you ever watched people during a scuffle? When two or more people are fighting, and someone comes in and tries to grab onto a friend to rescue them. They might grab them from behind in a bear hug and pull them back. But what does the one being rescued do? First, they fight the one helping them…until they realize who it is and what they are doing. Unfortunately, in some cases the person being rescued will be so angry and full of adrenaline that they fight even the one they love, out of blind rage. Rage can cause someone to temporarily lose true sight. They can see a friend and think they’re an enemy. They can hurt someone they would never normally want to hurt, even a child or loved one. Rage is the enemy of relationship. Rage is the enemy of love.
This is the thought God brought to mind when I was considering people in this particular day and age.
There are whole groups of people who have grown so accustomed to fighting for rights, etc. that they know no other way now. They are unable to be pleased, no matter what, because their original fight has been won, but now they feel it’s their identity, so they blindly fight simply for the purpose of fighting. The spirit of offense is so deeply engrained in their hearts that they can’t seem to find their way out of that blind rage. Then you have another group who is taking advantage of and manipulating the fighters for their own financial and power benefit. So, the fighters have fallen prey to the ones provoking them while pretending they are for them. They are being provoked by their own enemy to fight those who are not their enemies. This dynamic can feel overwhelming.
My question today is this, “What are you fighting for?” If you are standing for something, make sure you are still clear about what, for whom and why you are fighting. Don’t allow a perversion of righteousness push you to fight unnecessary fights. Resist the urge to make enemies of those who should be friends. Have you won your fight? Don’t fight against yourself by continuing to scuffle when you’ve already won.
Seek wisdom. Embrace peace. Live love. Stand firm. We must always know our season.
Prayer Moment: God, I thank You for Your wisdom. I love Your strategies. It’s so fun to partner with You in all things. Continue to teach me how, when and for what to fight. I realize that I am currently in a season of warfare. Help me to fight for You and not against You. Lead me in the path of righteousness for Your namesake. I am Your warrior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a times to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his toil- this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere Him. Ecclesiastes 3:1-14
365 Days in the Presence 