We all have battles we are facing or fighting at the moment. Jesus said that we are not exempted from going through suffering and tribulation. Your attack might be coming from all sides and you feel tired, deflated, and defeated. I want to encourage you today, not to lose heart. Do not give up. Jesus has already overcome the world and you will experience God’s peace because Jesus has won.
John 16:33 AMP ”I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world, you will have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]”
We first read about a champion in The Bible in 1 Samuel 17 when Goliath comes on the scene against Israel. Goliath was the Philistine’s champion. If you are called a champion soldier, it means that you are very successful in battle, usually the victor. You are not just any soldier. You are the best soldier in that army and you have a lot of battle experience. A battle between champions would usually determine the outcome of the war between the two armies or sides. We know how the story ended. God defeated the Philistine’s champion by using His appointed champion, David.
In the same way, God sent Jesus Christ to the world to be our Champion. Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection brought complete restoration and won the battle between Satan and God. Jesus sits at God’s right hand with all things under His rule and authority.
Acts 5:31 TPT ”He’s the one God has exalted and seated at his right hand as our Savior and Champion. He is the provider of grace as the Redeemer of Israel.”
Let’s think about this further. Who is the real enemy in your battle? We seem to fight people, but they are only pawns used by the enemy to try and deceive and destroy us. Think about your battle and the people involved. Who is really scheming behind the scenes? Your true fight is not against flesh and blood, or that person who has wronged you, but against the principalities and forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). With this in mind, why then would you and I struggle and make ourselves weary over an enemy that has already been defeated? Why should we give him the light of day by responding the way he hopes we will? Yes, we are all human and feel the emotions of despair, fear, worry, betrayal, hurt, and discouragement. But, I am challenging you to look at your situation with spiritual eyes like Elisha did in 2 Kings 6. Know that there is a multitude who stand with you in the spiritual realm.
Because Christ has already been victorious, we also have victory. We can stand and fight from a place of victory and do not have to fight for the hope of victory. The enemy has been conquered. Therefore, Jesus Christ is more than able to take care of these smaller battles we face where the enemy tries to steal our joy, and fill us with fear. God wants to be involved, by your side, and the answer to all your problems. He is in your corner.
The idiom, in your corner, originated from boxing, describing the staff and support a boxer has in his corner between rounds. As a believer in Christ, you do not have just any champion, but The Champion on your side. Furthermore, He is not just your support and Helper, but the One Who fights for you in the ring, so that you can be in the corner at perfect peace. God is not waiting idly in your corner, but He acts on your behalf when you surrender your fight to Him and have faith that He is able to do all that is required.
Romans 8:31 TPT “So, what does all this mean? If God has determined to stand with us, tell me, who then could ever stand against us?”
Deuteronomy 20:4 AMP ”for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
There is a beautiful song written by Chris Tomlin called Whom shall I fear, where he sings that the God of Angel Armies is always on our side. God is not the timid picture of Jesus holding a lamb in the Children’s Bible. God is a mighty warrior, a protector, a God of justice, in charge of Angel Armies, an all-consuming fire, and the Most High God.
Exodus 15:3 AMP “The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name.”
Psalm 46:1 – 3 MSG “God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, GOD-of-Angel-Armies protects us.”
Isaiah 42:13 NIV “The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout, he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.”
David was a great warrior and king. He defeated Goliath and many enemies thereafter. Despite his reputation and victories, he also experienced fear, anguish, betrayal, and disappointment as he was pursued by his enemies. Still, he is a good example of how one should respond when one is facing huge battles.
David was real about his emotions. Because of His relationship with God, he could share his feelings with boldness, even though God knew how he felt already. He frequently asked God for help in his time of need. He knew where his help came from. Do not be afraid to ask God for help. He wants you to come to Him and ask because He is your Abba Father. David would call on the Lord for help, vindication, and justice, and then in the next breath proclaim that God is the Champion of champions. David reminded himself of God’s faithfulness and promises. He continuously replaced his fears and doubts with God’s Word. He substituted his fear with faith by proclaiming God’s sovereignty and rule over all things. Furthermore, he praised God in advance for the deliverance he would receive. Psalms 7, 18, 35, and 37 are some of my favorite psalms written by David that celebrate and testify about the justice, victory, defense, and might of God.
God promises in His word that His children will be vindicated. This vindication might not necessarily be public for all to know and see, but in secret between you and God. The justice you receive might also only be experienced when you enter into eternity. Even though people might have wronged you, causing great consequences in your life by no fault of your own, God knows the truth. He knows all, sees all, and hears all. He promises to protect you from all onslaughts from the enemy.
Psalm 135:14 ESV ”For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.”
Isaiah 54:17 AMP ”No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And this is their vindication from Me,” says the LORD.”
One should never respond with revenge, but remember that vengeance belongs to the Lord. He remains a God of justice and truth Who will bring retribution in His time and way. We must pursue peace and unity with others as far as it is possible. Leave the fighting to God, because the battle belongs to Him.
Proverbs 20:22 TPT “Don’t ever say, “I’m going to get even with them if it’s the last thing I do!” Wrap God’s grace around your heart and he will be the one to vindicate you.”
Romans 12:19 AMP “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness]; for it is written [in Scripture], “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.”
So, how do you leave the fighting in God’s mighty and capable hands? What is your responsibility?
Respond firstly with prayer and seeking God’s face and guidance. Ask God for help. Not because God does not know what you need or are facing, but He wants you to seek Him and come to Him, not striving with your own human solutions. There is a famous victory in the Old Testament in 2 Chronicles 20, where king Jehoshaphat faced an upcoming battle with five very large armies. Even though he was afraid, he was quick to seek God in prayer and call a nation-wide fast. God delivered them, without one soldier having to fight. God hears our call for help and responds to His children who seek Him (Psalm 18:6, Psalm 50:15, Psalm 86:7).
Remember Who God is and that you are His beloved child. You are seated with Him in heavenly places and have been given the authority to overcome the enemy (Ephesians 2:6). That is the position you take when you face the enemy. In your submission to God, you can resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).
Nothing is impossible for God (Luke 1:37, Matthew 19:26). He can do the miraculous.
While you may be waiting for God to act or fight on your behalf, be still. Do not worry and start to complain or talk negatively about your situation or the people involved. Life and death are in the power of the tongue and your words will definitely have an impact on your ability to stand strong as well as the outcome of what you are facing. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years on a journey that should have taken them less than a year, because of complaining and unbelief. Be humble and trust that God remains in control.
Exodus 14:14 AMP “The LORD will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm.”
Put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11 – 17). Apply truth, righteousness, salvation, faith and peace in your everyday life and how you respond to challenges. These pieces of armor help us in our defense and keep us standing firm in battle. Thus, while you are waiting in the corner, as the Lord fights your battle, stand firm.
Remember to stand in the corner of the boxing ring, facing God. In other words, while you see the battle, your focus is on The Lord, not the enemy or the battle that is going on. Always look to Jesus Christ, your Champion.
The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is our only weapon of attack. Thus, fill your mind with The Word and the promises of God, so you can replace thoughts of fear with truth. Speak the Word over your situation. That is the only part you will have in the fighting. This will build your faith and also help you keep your focus on God and not the giant you are facing (Romans 10:17, Matthew 17:20).
Forgive the enemies you are facing in your battle. Although you might not feel able to do so, God demands it from us as His children. Forgiveness is not a suggestion. It enables us to truly see people as the pawns being used by the enemy. Forgiveness towards others puts us in a position that God can also forgive us. Forgiveness empowers us to have grace for people, the same way God has for all of us. It also puts God in the ring as our fighter. When we harbor resentment it makes us want to fight the battle our way, in order to achieve the outcome we think is best. Meanwhile, God has a better outcome or result planned if we allow Him to be in control of our defense.
Matthew 6:12 AMP “And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment].”
What goes hand-in-hand with forgiveness is love and prayer for our enemies. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5 that it is so easy to love those who treat you well, that unbelievers can also freely do that. But, as children of God, we choose to follow in God’s ways and earnestly pray for and show love for those who are against us. It is healthy to have boundaries in place with certain people who have continuously hurt you and do not change their ways. Still, we can respond with love and genuine prayer towards them because we want to please God foremost and grow in maturity. Trust me, the Holy Spirit will help you in this regard. Every time the devil reminds you of an injustice or a challenge that brings up emotions of vengeance and anger, use it as a prompting to stand in prayer for that person. Praying God’s blessing over their lives, puts God in the driver’s seat of your battle, and takes the power of the enemy or our selfish response away. Whenever we take a battle in our own hands, it becomes messy and it has a negative impact on our emotional and spiritual well-being. Praying for your enemies helps you to place those people in God’s hands so He can deal with them as He sees fit. It puts the responsibility and control where it belongs. With God.
Continue to pray in all circumstances. By conversing with God, like Jesus, gave the example, you honor God as Lord and Champion of your life. You remain aware of the reality that you can never be in control but He is always on the throne and we need to esteem Him as such. This is especially the case when we face tough battles. Also, ask other believers to pray with you. We all experience times when we struggle to pray. It is encouraging when we know that others are praying with us. In prayer, we offer thanksgiving for all God has done, currently doing, and will still do for us. It gives us peace, keeps us humble, and focused on God and nothing else. Fasting is an added element of prayer, that can be a powerful means to remind us to pray. It is not to be used to manipulate God to receive what we want. It aids us to focus on God foremost, it builds our faith and promotes our personal spiritual growth as we reset our focus and priorities.
Praise God for Who He is, was, and will be to the end of time.
Psalms 81:1 TPT “Lord, just singing about you makes me strong! So I’ll keep shouting for joy to Jacob’s God, my champion.”
While God fights our battle for us in the boxing ring, we stand in His corner with the correct attitude of faith and trust, always looking to Him. We remember that we are standing with God from a place of victory and not defeat. The battle has already been won. That is why we can praise God with thanksgiving even before we have seen our victory. We know it will come because God cannot fail or be defeated. He is our protector, vindicator, warrior, savior, and The Champion. You will see your victory sooner than you think!
I encourage you to read the book of Psalms in the next couple of weeks or months to strengthen you in the Lord as you trust Him to fight your battle for you.
Stay resolute my friend.
Talita
VERSE IMAGE OF THE WEEK
RESOLUTE WOMAN 
I so look forward to your posts, Talita. You have a very special gift.
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