Fighting the Good Fight?
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7
How would you define fighting the good fight? What or who are we fighting against? The truth is that we are all fighting our worst enemy, our sinful fleshly desires. Our flesh is made from the earth therefore it craves things from the world. The fight is between the spiritual guidance we receive from the Lord through the Holy Spirit and our sinful desires from the world through our flesh. Can we say that we are fighting the good fight, or are the desires of the world winning the fight?
We fight the good fight with the help of our Christian family. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17). It’s critical that we rely on our Christian brothers and sisters to hold us accountable because we see ourselves with biased judgment. Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness (Galatians 6:1). Be grateful that our brothers and sisters love us enough to question us about something we may be doing that is not pleasing to God. Don’t be prideful but humbly accept Biblical guidance.
We fight the good fight when Satan tempts us through our fleshly desires, which means that we are focused on self. When we spend time thinking about ourselves, we are opening our minds to Satan’s temptations. The more we focus on God and others, the more we avoid these temptations. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). If you are doing something good then you cannot be doing something evil; therefore when one is tempted one can escape instantly by doing good. When tempted we can speak scriptures, pray for someone, read the Word, or call a Christian friend. Pray in advance for God’s strength to kill the sinful desire and when the temptation occurs, the Lord may kill its power over you. But in any case always have a plan to overcome Satan’s attack.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13). Knowing that the Lord will never let us be tempted beyond what we can bear tells us there is always a way of escape. Pray for an escape and plan your strategy so that you will be ready with the power of God whenever Satan attacks. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20). Satan and his demons are no match for the power of God in us.
Today know that you have victory in Christ over any attack Satan can make. Know your battle plan and when the attack occurs, call on the Lord for his power and strength in the plan. You have the power of God who enables you to overcome the world, which includes Satan and all his demons.
Let’s Pray: Lord, help me to fight the good fight and to live in victory through Christ. Fill my mind and heart with victory and with the attitude that losing is not an option. Fill my heart and mind with your love and with victory in Christ, and let me reflect this attitude to the world. In Jesus name, Amen