Having lived a life filled with many mistakes, some victories too, but many mistakes, I haven’t questioned whether I believe in a loving and merciful God. I have for most of my life believed that his love for me was unending and thankfully that his mercy was new for me every day of my world. Yet another aspect of faith has in my heart eluded me for some time. Perhaps it’s the guy in me who wants to make it on my own, or more likely it is simply a wrong belief.
That belief is that while God loves me; “YES”, I must fight through this life for myself. Yet recently I’ve had a change of view. Not meaning we don’t have a part to play, but rather the viewpoint of whose the fighter in all of it. Who stands in the place of the champion boxer who will go round after round for the life that we live, ensuring that victory is the outcome.
I was having a conversation with my sister Kristi recently regarding some areas of life that I fight with, and she showed me that very likely since my childhood I have believed that God loved me, yet didn’t believe that he would fight for me. I had never consciously thought of it before I guess. Yet when she said it, it was like one of those; ” ding ding ding bells went off in my head. It was true. I had always lived my life believing it was me that had to fight all the battles that I had to face. And looking back, I hadn’t done a great job of winning them, to say the least.
Over the last few days I’m realizing that I don’t have to fight anymore. Not meaning I just sit around and do nothing of course. Rather that the source I look to in a battle no longer needs to be me. Instead it is God who will do the fighting for me. I just need to trust that he can do it and stay out of his way, and go in the directions he has for me to travel in. I’m sure this is such simple understanding for most. Even when I heard it at first I said to myself; “Ya, I know that!” However, when I examined my history I recognized that for the most part I would give God control for a little while, then pull it back to me when I saw fit to do so. Yet as it says in Exodus 14:14 (NLT) “The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Examining the many weights I carry on my shoulders and knots that have built up to hold them, I see that the vast majority of them need not be there. One by one I can hear him saying; “That’s not your fight!”
In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said; ”Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (NLT) That’s our part to play. To know him more. To seek his face more than just his handouts. He takes care of the battles, and all the other aspects of life we need as well.
Kameron Lombard © 2012 work in progress
