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Fight Smarter, Not Harder

Do not be afraid or discouraged?For the battle is not yours, but God?s?You will not have to fight this battle?Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you?Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.  2 Chronicles 20:15, 17 NIV

Photo courtesy of morguefile and BryanHanson."The eagle does not fight the snake on the ground. It takes it into the sky and changes the battleground and then releases it into the sky. The snake has no power, no stamina, and no balance in the air. It is useless, weak, and vulnerable in the air—unlike on the ground where it is powerful, wise, and deadly. Don't fight the enemy in his comfort zone. Change your battleground like the eagle, and take your fight into the spiritual realm by praying. When you do, God takes over your battles. Let God take charge through your earnest prayers and watch Him bring the victory."

A friend posted this quote recently, and it rocked my world. I had noticed there was one strong temptation that, like a snake, would occasionally rear its ugly head in my life. For a couple of years, it seemed to keep returning to see if I was going to “take the bait.” I was growing weary of the fight.

As the temptation increased, so did my efforts. I made an extra effort to avoid the temptation, came up with new strategies to battle the temptation, and asked my friends for accountability. Never once did I think to pray more. After reading the post, I changed my battle strategy and started working smarter rather than harder.

I asked Christian friends to pray specifically for that area of temptation in my life. I chunked the strategies and called out to God for help when the temptation lurked. I laid down my weapons and called on the Commander in Chief to send His angels to do battle for me. And He did. After years of battling the same thing periodically, I woke up last week and it was gone. I could literally feel that the yolk and burden of that thorn in the flesh had vanished.

Be like the eagle and give the battle to the Lord. Fight smarter, not harder.

(Photo courtesy of morguefile and BryanHanson.)

(For more devotions, visit us at www.christiandevotions.us.)


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April Estes

April Estes lives in Knoxville and is a Mom to four, wife to one, and enjoys writing songs while waiting in carpool.