Warriors Arise: July 14, 2021
2 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV) Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ...
How can God always lead us into triumph? Nobody always wins? Or can they?
Ok, honestly, how many of you are tired of "Today is Your Day"? Maybe you would like to argue, "Veridee, everyday can't be "my day." Yes, I understand every day everything is not going to fall into your lap and be perfect. However, I do believe we can win every day.
In high school, I played softball. My dad was my coach. He taught all of his pitchers to be ready for defense as soon as you release the ball. I remember seeing something that drilled his point. A ball was hit so hard back at our pitcher she didn't have time to get her glove open. Her glove was knocked off her hand and the ball was spinning around on the field. She left her glove, snagged the ball and made the throw to first. That wasn't an easy play to make. It definitely had the shock factor attached to it.
We have moments like that in our day. We initiated the movement in our day just like the pitcher who threw the pitch. Whether the ball got away from her or the batter just nailed it doesn't really matter. It is how we respond to the situation at hand. The pitcher thinks she is in control. She is throwing the ball. She has 8 other players ready to make the play but this was her battle to win. She had to keep her mind about her. She had a choice and a split second to make it. She could have allowed the shock of the ball coming back at her and knocking her glove off to prevent her from finishing the play.
We have situations in our day just like that. Just because a situation didn't go as planned doesn't mean you quit in that moment. When we keep our mind engaged, we can remain focused to remember the goal of our day. For the pitcher, she wanted to get the out. I am sure the pitcher wanted it to be a strike and the batter to take a seat, but the batter fought to get on base. Both players wanted to win. How do we make a win out of that?
The pitcher could have surrendered, giving the base to the runner. Just throw in the towel, and say, "I'll get the next one." Or she could keep her focus and make the play. She could have used the excuse, "The ball ripped my glove off." Many would have recognized the event as shocking. Or the pitcher could stick to the task before her, get the ball and make the play to get the batter out at first.
How would you have responded? Are you focused on what you are to accomplish each day that when something happens to knock your glove off you continue to make the play? The play isn't over until the umpire makes the call.
God doesn't want us to give up. Sure, life can take a swing at us and hit a ball so hard that is knocks our glove off but does that mean we give up the opportunity to finish our job, make the play, get the out? We tend to think life has to go smooth for it to be perfect. When situations are perfect there is little joy in the victory. Think about a blowout game where one pitcher is striking out everyone who comes up to bat and when her team is up to bat it is as if there is no red light in sight. Sure, we are delighted in the win. But if you have been on a team that had to battle for a win, had to defend strong and work the bases to get the win, oh, the victory is so much sweeter!
How come in life we expect things to be easy every minute of every day? Why is it that we want everything to fall into place without us having to lift a finger? I am just like the next person. I expect things to go as planned. However, I also have learned to recalibrate when something in the plan shifts and still go for the win.
Luke 9:62 (NKJV) But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
God, calls us to look for the win. He doesn't want us giving up. He is the umpire. He says when the play is over. Sure, a hard situation may come up in the day, but He has given us a verse to look to Him for how to handle it.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
God has given us power to overcome our adversary. God has give us love to draw from our courage. God has given us a sound mind so confusion cannot overtake us. Many times the win come because our mind is stayed on Him. We do not allow our mind to wander from God making a way for us to complete the play, to win the day.
I will agree, every day can't be perfect according to everything going just right, no irritations, everything going "my" way. However, if we learn from our decisions and we make it a win. When we learn from our mistakes, we won't make the same mistake again. Making each day "my" day is about seizing the opportunities to launch myself out of my mistakes or difficulties of that day because my response brought the shift in my day.
You and I have a choice. I can choose to stop the free fall into the mistake, my disappointment, anger, frustration, failure. I can choose to learn from my mistake and turn my emotions to having them work for me instead of against me. When our emotions get overtaken by the frustration of the mistake, we continue down the hole we so willing jumped into. You and I have a choice to make today "my" day.
Find that way to focus and calm down.
Find that way to forgive yourself and do what is necessary now.
Find that way to learn so you are prepared to win without hesitation the next time.
You can't stop the match from being lit on fire but you can decide if you are going to let it continue burn until it burns you. Mistakes and mishaps come into our day, something doesn't go right or a person says something that hurts, and you still have a choice. You can blow out the match or watch it burn down the stick until it burns your fingers.
Blow out the match and win the day. Just because a situation from your day "lit you on fire" doesn't mean you have to allow it to cause you 2nd and 3rd degree burns. Put it out.
Today is your day to seize the opportunity to win everyday. Even in the imperfections of your day, the outcome is up to you. Christ in You gives you the strength to win the day. The Holy Spirit gives you the ability to be in control. God is cheering for you to overcome the glove being knocked off your hand and making the through to first. See the ball, finish the play.
Father, I ask for You to remind me in the middle of my day, when the unexpected has happened to try and derail me that I look to see how to recover. I pray I will get focused on You and my response will be to stay calm, see what to do and give everything I have to win the way. Too many times something happens and it takes me off guard. I can get lit up like a match but then I remember to remain focused on the outcome. I remember just because I am upset that things didn't happen like I planned doesn't mean that the situation can't be recovered. You make a way for the win. I yield to You and remain focus on what You have for me. I position myself in Your presence and seize the opportunity You have before me. You are with me. You call me to finish well and win today. I do not have to worry about tomorrow. I only have to respond to what is happening right now. Yo make all things for together for those who are in Christ Jesus. Today, I take my stand with You and live to win each moment of the day as You lead me into triumph in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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