The BattleSample

Conclusion

By Amy Cook

Medals signify that a soldier isn’t a new recruit, and a soldier decorated with medals strikes fear in the heart of the enemy. Decorated soldiers have experienced combat and lived to fight another day. Because these seasoned warriors have some victories under their belt, they run to the battle. They have seen the Lord lead them through battle, and the enemy can’t easily intimidate them.

The bravest, most honored soldiers are the ones who go above and beyond the call of duty to risk their own lives for the sake of others. These kinds of warriors often carry several scars on their bodies. A scar can either mean a brave risk was taken or a lesson was learned that won’t be repeated. Both types of scars have value. What kind of spiritual warrior are you? Do you have medals or scars? Or like most soldiers, do you have a mixture of both? If you have neither, maybe you should ask yourself the question, “Am I even in the battle?”

The purpose of this devotional was to train you, as a soldier of God, in the principles of effective spiritual warfare. In the last 21 days, you’ve walked along a spiritual warrior’s pathway to victory. No matter how long you’ve served in God’s army, you will continue to experience both victories and setbacks. When setbacks occur, retrace your progress along the spiritual pathway to discover where the enemy got a foothold. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you out of the enemy’s trap, and then allow Him to guide you as you persevere in the faith. Eventually, you’ll begin to see more victories than defeats.

For an untrained soldier, victory is a surprise. For a skilled warrior, victory is expected. For a warrior riding beside His soon coming King, Victory is certain.

Soldiers of Christ, arise, And put your armor on, Strong in the strength which God supplies Through His eternal Son; Strong in the Lord of Hosts, And in His mighty power, Who in the strength of Jesus trusts Is more than conqueror. Leave no unguarded place, No weakness of the soul; Take every virtue, every grace, And fortify the whole. From strength to strength go on, Wrestle, fight and pray, Tread all the powers of darkness down And win the well-fought day.

Charles Wesley