For when you feel defeated...

If I am to be brutally honest, I struggle with complacency.

Maybe we all do?

I think of snowglobes—the way you can stir them up and they are beautiful, but there’s something in them that wants to “settle down.” While it’s being shaken the glitter and the snow go all directions, and the minute you set that globe down, the glitter and the snow begin to fall, settle down, return to order.

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Who wants to live all stirred up?

Who wants to live in a snow storm?

Friends, I have been “stirred up.” Unforseeable little life storms, one after another. I feel shaken, raw. But in it, I realize just how settled down I was. Complacent. In my parenting, in my marriage, in my life. I was just okay, and just okay being just okay.

And now,

Now, it’s time to fight.

Fight for my marriage. Fight for my kids. Fight for myself.

Fight that stinking enemy that comes to kill, steal and destroy.

I think of the fight movies from the 80’s—the ones where the hero encounters a bully/bad guy of some kind, realizes he needs to learn to fight, and then cheesy fight music get’s cued while the hero goes into training.

Someone needs to cue my cheesy fight music. I’ve got to learn to fight.

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And really, everything in this life of any real value, will have to be fought for. You want your marriage to last—you gotta fight for it. You want your kids to know God and how to live for Him—you gotta fight for it. You want to live your life for God—yep, you gotta fight for it. Maybe you don’t like what I am telling you. But remember that whole Armor of God thing from Sunday School (Ephesians 6 ring a bell?)?? Yeah, that’s in the Bible for a reason. ;)

When you feel defeated. When you feel like things are falling apart. When life feels out of control.

It’s time to fight.

Don't be complacent. Put on your metaphorical 80's sweat band and your big girl panties too and Fight!

Alright, so here is me getting my Mr. Miyagi on and giving you a list of ways to fight.

Know who/what you are fighting. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places” ((Ephesians 6:12) Don’t fight your kids when they are rotten… fight FOR them. Fight the enemy that wants them. Don’t fight your husband when he makes a butthead move… fight FOR him. Don’t beat yourself up when you make mistakes. Realize you are battling your humanity and the enemy that wants you. (This isn’t me saying, however, to excuse bad behavior; “The Devil made me do it.”)
Cry Out.If you read the Old Testament of the Bible, you will find a whole lot of the phrase “cry out.” And immediately following that phrase you will find God showing up. I don’t know why it works, but I do know that God hears our cries. And when we match our desperation for Him with the loudness of our cry, He shows up. This past weekend I fought for peace and my son as I drove to the hospital after my son managed to locate and open a bottle of Nyquil. I cried out. God showed up. And while my son hadn't drank enough to be a problem, I also didn't lose my peace waiting to find out. I fought for both out loud: "God I need you right now!"
Bible. Pray. Repeat. Yep. I hate to give a simple pat answer, but this is the “wax on, wax off” move of spiritual warfare. Try reading in Ephesians if you don’t know where to start. If you don’t know how to pray—try this: Find a quiet spot (or put on some music if you have some mind-wandering tendencies). Have a pen and paper handy for any random thoughts that may pop up in your head (like grocery list item, appointment, need-to-do). Talk to God. No really. All that’s in your heart. Give Him a chance to speak. Be quiet. Try journaling too.
Do what you least feel like doing.

When life gets hard, do you tend to hide? Crawl out from under that rock, and ask for help. Find some friends and hang out with them. Even consider being vulnerable (just make sure you’ve chosen the right friends for this).
When life gets hard to you tend to run? Sit still, quiet yourself, pray. It may take a while for you to “chill out” but sit quiet until you do. Don’t go anywhere until you’ve heard from God.
When life gets hard do you tend to pick fights? Realize you are not fighting anyone (see point 1). Don't talk. Be quiet. Grab the people who you are the most angry with and pray with them, for them, ask them to pray for you.

Fighting isn't all that fun. But you know what is awesome in it? When you realize you aren't supposed to actually fight your husband, but fight the enemy with him; when you realize you aren't supposed to actually fight your kids, but fight the enemy with them; when you realize you aren't supposed to actually beat yourself up, but fight the enemy that is plaguing you, trying to tell you how much you suck at life... when you grab the hands of the one's you love most, even in the midst of the greatest snow storm... love huddles you close. Inseparable bonds are formed in storms. Love conquers all.

And these three things prevail: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.

Have any ways to fight to add to the list?

I may have time to share a favorite recipe later today. We shall see.

But I shall see you all tomorrow for my big announcement :)

xo
Amanda

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