And Having Done All to Stand...

And having done all to stand, stand therefore! I know the verse goes on from there into the spiritual armor, but it helps me sometimes to park right there on that phrase. I think it’s because I need to be reminded that God requires that we have some fortitude. That’s a tough one to build in a microwave-120 words world.

I think that’s why I have always admired the military. Talk about an organization built on fortitude and resilience. I always try to buy anyone I see in uniform their lunch or dinner as I have this big mooshy spot for them because they stand as the bulwark between me and a world that frankly scares me... a lot. They are a walking metaphor of the protection of my God. He stands between me and the spiritual world.

The difference is that the military would take one look at me and stamp 4F all over my file. God on the other hand has made it clear that He expects me to stand and having done all I can to stand, keep doing it. Whew! Sometimes I confess to getting mad about this standing phrase. I get tired of standing and standing. It’s then that my mind tells me that Egypt wasn’t that bad and at least there I got to sit down. And suddenly I’m no better than the Israelites who complained in the wilderness until they made God want to sit down...on them.

This is where the fortitude piece comes in and we are supposed to kick it into high believing and contending gear. But sometimes I feel like I’m driving a four speed and needing a five (this is stick shift talk for the kiddies - wink). This is where I get it wrong sometimes. I expect that when I need it the ability to contend, stand and walk in fortitude will just be there and I’ll shift into it and speed merrily on my way. Uh...nope. Just like our physical muscles, these things are spiritual muscles that I need to strengthen, test and grow. So much of our spiritual life is a process instead of a gear shift.

I wish that I had realized the truth of this process a lot earlier. I would be stronger now. Instead, I kicked against situations and thew myself on the floor kicking and screaming like the Target toddler denied a goodie. If I had realized that I could have taken the hand of my Lord, stood up and held on to what I knew was right. He would have been there to help me stand, but I would have been exercising my faith muscle, my fortitude and learning how to contend or push back on the circumstances of life that were coming against my inheritance as a child of the living God. Now He didn’t leave me floundering in my tantrum, He still worked with me, but I know that I missed opportunities to grow.

I decided today that I am going to open my tightly scrunched eyes and look the battle straight in the face and I am going to stand. I am going to contend for what I know is right. What I know is mine, bought by the Blood of the Lamb. I am going to use the Word of My Testimony to grow my fortitude and having done all I can to stand, I’m going to stand some more. May God help you stand in your place of battle today.