Influencers Weekly Devotional- The Warrior

The Warrior   by   Rocky Fleming     Several years ago, an outstanding Christian musician by the name of Twila Paris penned the words to a song that through the years has increasingly reminded me of a spiritual dynamic in a man who is a warrior for Christ. The dynamic I speak of is the strength of the Lord and our dependence on Him. On the outside we are perceived as fierce and determined, but on the inside we are weak and dependent as a child. Why is this? Read some of the words of the song and allow me to make a connection:   The Warrior is a Child by Twila Paris   Lately I've been winning battles left and right - But even winners can get wounded in the fight People say that I'm amazing, I'm strong beyond my years - But they don't see inside of me, I'm hiding all these tears   Unafraid because His armor is the best - But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest - People say that I'm amazing - I never face retreat - But they don't see the enemies - That lay me at His feet   They don't know that I come running home when I fall down - They don't know who picks me up when no one is around - I drop my sword and cry for just a while - 'Coz deep inside this armor, The warrior is a child   As I parallel the modern day examples that we put on display to model strength, courage and fortitude and compare them to those traits in God’s Warrior, I see an internal difference that lies beneath the surface of both. With one example, we see a hardened exterior motivated by fear, or anger, or hurt, and there is hardness beneath as well. What you hear and see on the outside of this man is the same on the inside. As an example, when Jesus said that what we hear from the mouth indicates the condition of the heart, He was referring to the inside of a person that is hidden from view. With God’s warrior, we see no less courage and maybe even more? We see no less resolve and maybe even more, to do the right thing? But the outside of this warrior is no indication of the tenderness that lies within him. There is childlikeness in this warrior that is a strength within him that the outside world doesn’t see. Yes, I said it the way I meant it to be said. This childlikeness is a hidden strength in this warrior and not a hidden weakness.   With the examples the world gives us of great warriors, we are shown ruthless, hardened, larger than life characters. There are some of those guys out there. We’ve read about them. They are real heroes, but they are rare. Most of these larger than life characters we see or hear about are illusions, and have created personas that a good PR agent has come up with or what is most common, a digital image that Hollywood created. The truth is, I have seen many of these “wanna be” heroes, when faced with true life or death situations or challenges that shake them loose from their illusions, crumble like a deck of cards. Their bravado doesn’t sustain them. They can fake an outside appearance for a while, but when the real tests come, the truth of the inner man hidden from the public makes its way to the surface and this is the true man that is seen, such as Saul. But a contrary example with Saul would be David. Let me explain:   When David went to the battlefield to face Goliath, it was because none of the other men, including Saul, the man who stood head and shoulders above the others, would do it. They were afraid of Goliath. He was bigger than them. He was frightening. He promised death, and physics was on his side. He was a big, big man by any measurement used to calculate his height and strength. These were experienced warriors who heard his challenges and refused to face Goliath, so their reasoning was sound to not meet the big giant in the valley below. But David didn’t use their “mature” reasoning and this is where the child inside the warrior led the man. He saw the issues to be a spiritual battle, and with all spiritual battles, a force more mighty than his manhood was required for victory. What we see in David was a simple faith that didn’t make things complicated. This is very characteristic of a child. A child just keeps things simple.   No matter the size of God’s man or woman, no matter the physical, mental, or emotional attributes that one has. No matter how great the perceived resources are, or how lacking they are. God’s warrior has resources that surround him that are beyond conquering, and a force that works within him that cannot be seen by human eye. This man is described in the Bible as “more than a conqueror.” The only concern for this man is to keep a righteous connection with God for therein is where his strength resides. Here is what the Word tells us:   “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.” Proverbs 24:16 (NLT)   Notice that there will be some trip ups. The scripture above mentions seven times, but seven also means completeness in the bible. In other words, if we completely slip up time and time again, the godly (righteous in Christ) man will rise again when we fall. But, there will be wounds. There will be battle damage and this is why Twila’s song means so much to me.   “They don't know that I come running home when I fall down - They don't know who picks me up when no one is around - I drop my sword and cry for just a while - 'Coz deep inside this armor, The warrior is a child”   Can’t you just see this battle weary “man-child” taking off his armor and being completely vulnerable before the Lord? Can’t you see his honesty with having made some mistakes and regretting them while confessing them, but at the same time asking his Father to help him be able to learn from those mistakes? Can’t you see the discouragement he feels with his battles, but he cannot allow anyone else to see what he feels, for after all, they don’t know there is a child inside his armor? It would frighten them to know just how little control he has over things. He is weary, tired, frightened, and he needs to be honest and crawl up in his Daddy’s lap to just rest there for a while? Can’t you see how this child within the warrior must go to this place to be restored for his return to the battlefield? This is the spiritual dynamic I mentioned that in within Christ’s warrior. It is the child within the man that must be nurtured and cared for by his Father, and this is the hidden strength within God’s man.   If any of you ever have the opportunity to observe one of Influencers’ Board meetings or one of our staff meetings, you will hear me ask our leaders a very honest and consistent question to begin each meeting. I ask, “How is your soul? Is it healthy?” I believe that our board and staff, our Journey Guides, and I, myself, cannot be the leaders who can successfully wade into the battles and conflicts with the evil that we face, unless we are soul healthy. Another thing I am asking is, “How is the child within you? Is he comforted? Is he feeling loved? Is he secure? Is he abiding with Christ?” I ask these things for it is that child within each of us, and our simple faith that allows us to prevail against the power of darkness that we face as a ministry. What I am saying is that we cannot lead this ministry unless we take people to that place we are living ourselves. We cannot lead people to find courage and an ability to conquer the evil that comes at them unless they understand where their power comes from. It is so essential that the child within is nurtured within us all. So this is my question to you:   “How is your soul? Are you soul healthy? Do you need a break? Are you battle weary?” If so, take off your armor and rest awhile in your Heavenly Daddy’s arms. It’s OK to drop your sword for a little while. Let Him pick you up. He knows what you’ve been battling with and He wants to restore you. Be a child and simply sit before your loving Daddy. He is waiting for you. You need it, and we need you to be healthy … in your soul … for there is a child there that needs to be nurtured. That is where your strength for facing your battles will come from. Go there.