On a few occasions I have the opportunity to pick and choose how and where I am going to fight my next battle. This is a strategic prospect, as I have the home turf advantage and I can lay ambushes, use choke points and even have friendly forces ready for my call for help in a dire situation. On more than a few occasions life doesn’t allow for this freedom. Battlefields rage all around and we get sucked into a random fight of our own or we may be drawn into someone else’s fight without warning. If we are not grounded properly or are unprepared chances are the battle will not go in our favor or will bear a costly price for a victory. For this reason we surround ourselves will reliable warriors (shock troops) that can jump in and out of battle in a moment’s notice until the main force can regroup and overwhelm the enemy with numbers and fire power.
Recently this was the case for me!
On a beautiful summer evening in August I was lingering in the comfort and safety of my home base. It had been quiet on the war front for some time and I was getting some R&R as most soldiers do in the quiet moments of war. When the call went out! A “Dear Friend” was in pinned down and needed immediate assistance. I rolled out my shock troops and assessed the situation. At the initial arrival into the battle I quickly realized that my ally had been ambushed on their flank and was in no way prepared for the fight despite early warnings. Was I prepared for this? I felt as if I was not battle ready and would only add to the chaos. Turning to a trustee advisor I quickly realized that during my down time I had been prepared silently for this specific battle. Immediately I pressed my advantage calling on all resources I was able to fend off the enemy while giving my ally time get out of the kill zone. Escorting the wounded back to safety it was there that we both were able to re-supply and decided on a new S.O.P. (standard operating procedure) if faced with that same battle.
Life is a chaotic mess. Often times we find ourselves unfocused on the issues that matter because we have not taken the time to do the maintenance required to react quickly and effectively against the battles we fall prey to. If we manage to reach this point, then we are susceptible to attacks at all times of the day, and from every angle. It is in this “complacent” attitude that we can be taken out of the fight and become unreliable in our own fights but also become a detriment to our allies in much of the same way. Daily maintenance does not have to be a long drawn out process. In fact if done often and correctly then it can be just a 30 second radio broadcast or a random conversation with a friend that can be drawn upon when needed. When we go for days, weeks or months without this maintenance the our equipment becomes dilapidated, rusted, and dead lined. We must daily do out PCC’s (pre combat checks) and our PCI’s (pre combat inspections) to ensure we are prepared for our own battlefield or someone else's.
Ephesians 6:10-18
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
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