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“The greatest battle of life is spiritual.”


A thought by John Ortberg from his book, The Me I Want to Be (p. 48). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

And we want to grow stronger in order to face those battles.  So, what weapons do I use?

John says, “It is the struggles with resentment and anger and greed and superiority that keep me from living in the flow with God. How often in spiritual life do we get burdened because we try to wield weapons that have helped someone else in the battle? We hear about how someone else prays, or reads Scripture to start or end their day, or worships, or studies, or serves — and we feel guilty if we don’t do the same. We get frustrated because what works for someone else is not helpful to us. We are like David, trying to walk around in Saul’s armor. The apostle Paul said to ‘put on the full armor of God,’ (Ephesians 6:11) which includes truth and peace and prayer and faith. Have no doubt, it will fit you. If David had gone into battle using Saul’s armor, he would have lost. God knew what Saul needed. God knew what David needed. And God knows what you need.”

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) in the New Testament of the Bible says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

John goes on, “The Bible does not say you are God’s appliance; it says you are his masterpiece. Appliances get mass-produced. Masterpieces get handcrafted. God did not make you exactly like anyone else. Therefore, his plan for shaping you will not look like his plan for shaping anyone else. If you try to follow a generic plan for spiritual growth, it will only frustrate you. Paul said, ‘Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.’ (2 Corinthians 3:17)

“It is time for you to stop walking around in Saul’s armor. It is time to get free.”

So, let's trust God to lay out his plan to shape us? OK?

Yes, yes!

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