Battle Plan

I'm not a real warrior.  I live my comfortable, secure, safe and privileged life because of the countless men and women who have warred on my behalf.  I live in their debt.

Deuteronomy 20:1-9 made me think about war.  First to pay tribute to these many souls who know or have known real war and then to consider what these scriptures say to me.

"Gone" "Over" "No" "End" "Lost"  "Not you"  These words are just a few of the "wars" I have faced or may face in my privileged existence.  They represent the challenges of life.  Times when life does not go according to my rosy plan.

I noticed that verse one begins with when you go to war not "if."  The challenges of life are near certain.  Some we can wisely avoid.  Others happen no matter how I try to control.

The following verses give me advice to face the battles of my life:

1.  Don't be afraid, God is with me.  I need to remember who God is, what He has done for me in my past and that He has chosen me and given me a future.

2.  Seek spiritual counsel.  I need to seek and find those spiritual folks who will point me to remember who God is, what He has done for me in my past and that He has chosen me and given me a future.

3.  Don't be distracted by home, harvest and/or heart.

4. Don't surround yourself with  those who  might cause you  to panic.

5.  Get organized.

I attended a high school graduation where 8 students shared a few moments of reflection for their fellow students. Five of those messages centered on fear.  In the midst of one of the most exciting achievements of their lives so far, they faced fear in this  giant change in their young lives.  The speakers also recognized that while fear may be the obstacle, newness awaited in the future.  Each had "words of wisdom" to encourage the young people to take the challenges of life and treat them as opportunities.

Fear of change and the unknown is a war that we all face. A life challenge can also be an opportunity.  Those same words, gone, over, end, not you, no, can also be the beginning. God knows the outcome.  He will always be with me, just as He has always been with me.