Hey SIS!!
This chapter really hits home
for me so let me take you into my world. I come from a fairly large household
as my mother had six children. I was the youngest and my siblings were much
older. We had this one sister who was the protector of all siblings. If anyone
messed with any of her sisters they would have to battle with her instead. Even
if the kids looked at one of my older siblings wrong or even called them a name
she would give them a physical shakedown that would have them volunteering to
hand over lunch money, giving her their homework, and running home to their
momma in silent fear. Her reputation was so strong she was even known for
physically taking out multiple kids at one time, girls and boys alike. They
didn’t mess with my sister or even my family for that matter. She was always on
Top Notch Guard for her us! I couldn't have loved her more!!! :)
The key scripture Mark Batterson
uses for today is Psalms 35:23 “Contend for me my God and Lord.” Batterson
starts off noting, “God loves when we fight for Him. But God loves it even more
when we let Him fight for us!” A statement so simple and powerful yet
throughout life the simplicity of ‘God wanting to fight for us’ can be tough to
digest when we decide to dedicate our lives to Him.
To show you what I mean when I was around four/five years old I found out that my sister, The Top Notch Sibling Guard, became pregnant then sick and doctors said she only had one year to live. An untreatable malignant brain tumor was what she had. So I watched this strong, vibrant, “stand for your rights” woman full of love fight for her life until it was over. For me, although I was six at the time and my siblings were all adults, I felt a transfer of the need to protect just like my sister did. While the “fight” I stood for was far less physical and more mental and emotional, I still had a natural tendency to “protect” what was right. All throughout school I was never truly picked on, yet I would stand up for people who were or I would always encourage those who were hurting. I was the young one who always had a “handle” on things no matter the angle.
It was only natural for this
“handle all” spirit to continue heavily into my adulthood, right? However, we
all know that with adulthood comes adult responsibilities! Ugh! Those things
can be a handful and even though I was a Saved woman attempting to use “wisdom”
and “sound logic” to make “good decisions” all my efforts kept me spinning my
wheels in circles and always feeling drained!!!!! That’s until I realized the
simple notion that Batterson mentions, “If you are on God’s side, then God is
on your side.” Translation: God wants you to ONLY focus on fighting for Him and
to let Him handle EVERYTHING ELSE! Now how reassuring is that!?! Some of you
may be saying to yourself right now “Wait, you mean to tell me if I put ALL of
my energy/focus into staying in God’s presence then God handles the rest????”
My response: “Yes, that is exactly what I am saying SIS!!!!” Next you may ask,
“Well how can I give everything to God?” Well SIS, Batterson said it best:
“Prayer is the way we let go and let God. Prayer is the way we take our hands
off and let God put His hands on. Prayer is the difference between you fighting
for God and God fighting for you.” If we are doing His will God has our back
and we can rest in confidence knowing “Our prayers don't have expiration
dates.” What a relief!!!
Post Written By: SIS Leigh
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