Dictionary.com defines warrior as:
1. a person engaged or experienced in warfare; soldier
2. a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness
Think about it, as men we are constanly engaged (or at least we should be!) in some sort of warfare. If nothing else, according to God's Word, we are constantly at war with our flesh. If that is the case, then God has prepared us for the war(s) we have to fight. Deut 31:6 says, "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
Another word that comes to mind is LEADER.
I'll admit, some men are better leaders than others. However, I challenge someone who says "John Doe is a natural born leader" as a way of describing one man's ability to lead vs. another man's perceived inability to lead. Let me explain what I mean. I believe EVERY man is born with the ability to lead. In His Word, God tells men we are to be the spritual LEADERS of our household. If God has called us to do something, He will equip us to achieve that calling. Are some men better leaders than other? Sure, but nonetheless, we have all been given the ability to lead. We just need to call on God's strength to develop the leader within ourselves.
PASSION is another one.
As men, we are all passionate about something. Too often, that passion is misguided. We are passionate about our hobbies, our favorite team, our career, and our success based on worldly standards. We should be passionate about the same things Jesus was passionate about...loving God and loving others. We should be passionate about loving and leading our families. We should be passionate for the Truth. We should be passionate about living our lives in a way that makes others thirsty. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but just a few things God has been showing me.
I could go on, but I am stopping for now. God has sufficiently beaten me about the head and shoulders with His holy 2x4 (that's just another way of saying God has really convicted me about some things)! Suffice it to say that men are created to be WARRIORS who LEAD their family and others into a PASSIONATE pursuit of living out a life pleasing to God.
God, I ask you to help me become the man you have called me to be. Help me to be a warrior for the Truth, for my family, those I love, and the defenseless. Help me to lead my family and others to the foot of the cross in my daily actions. I ask you to rekindle the flames of passion You ignited in my soul that I have smothered because of my selfishness. I ask you forgive me for not being the man You have called me to be. Jesus, help me to live out Micah 6:8 "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" Jesus, my heart's desire is to hear you say on THAT day "well done my good and faithful servant." Amen
Another word that comes to mind is LEADER.
I'll admit, some men are better leaders than others. However, I challenge someone who says "John Doe is a natural born leader" as a way of describing one man's ability to lead vs. another man's perceived inability to lead. Let me explain what I mean. I believe EVERY man is born with the ability to lead. In His Word, God tells men we are to be the spritual LEADERS of our household. If God has called us to do something, He will equip us to achieve that calling. Are some men better leaders than other? Sure, but nonetheless, we have all been given the ability to lead. We just need to call on God's strength to develop the leader within ourselves.
PASSION is another one.
As men, we are all passionate about something. Too often, that passion is misguided. We are passionate about our hobbies, our favorite team, our career, and our success based on worldly standards. We should be passionate about the same things Jesus was passionate about...loving God and loving others. We should be passionate about loving and leading our families. We should be passionate for the Truth. We should be passionate about living our lives in a way that makes others thirsty. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but just a few things God has been showing me.
I could go on, but I am stopping for now. God has sufficiently beaten me about the head and shoulders with His holy 2x4 (that's just another way of saying God has really convicted me about some things)! Suffice it to say that men are created to be WARRIORS who LEAD their family and others into a PASSIONATE pursuit of living out a life pleasing to God.
God, I ask you to help me become the man you have called me to be. Help me to be a warrior for the Truth, for my family, those I love, and the defenseless. Help me to lead my family and others to the foot of the cross in my daily actions. I ask you to rekindle the flames of passion You ignited in my soul that I have smothered because of my selfishness. I ask you forgive me for not being the man You have called me to be. Jesus, help me to live out Micah 6:8 "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" Jesus, my heart's desire is to hear you say on THAT day "well done my good and faithful servant." Amen
I have read this post several times this week.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the challenge, I have needed it.