The Rules of Engagement

Your Military Headquarters and the Commander in Chief

able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Our leader is merciful and compassionate toward us. As the almighty, omnipotent Commander, He encourages us to lay our burdens on Him. This is very different than the stereotype we see in some movies where the old sarge is barking orders at the new recruits. But God says that He will bear us up and strengthen us in our weaknesses. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. —Matthew 11:28–30 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. —2 Corinthians 12:9–10, niv We also have a leader who knows what we are going through. He became a Man just so He could come up through the ranks, like each one of us have, and redeem us. He is able to identify when we need to press into Him and bear into the trial or when we need a sweet respite provided by His grace and mercy that is new every morning. He is not a hard taskmaster, but because He is familiar with us from the inside out (Ps. 139), He knows exactly what we need in order to grow and be a stronger warrior. Hebrews 4:15–16 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (niv). His training exercises are not always easy to accomplish, but they are ever so effective and strategic in achieving the plans that He has for our lives. He gives us the tools, weapons, strategies, and tactics to be overcomers in this spiritual war.

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