“Fight the good fight of faith…”(1 Timothy 6:12, NIV).
I never would have guessed that in my middle years, I would learn to fight well. But I am!
My kids and I take karate in a Christ-centered dojo where we learn to battle in more ways than one.
The first time I donned protective gear and stepped onto the floor with a partner, sparring felt overwhelming. Of course, I didn’t like getting whacked by my opponent, but my greatest fear was hurting someone from my lack of self control.
“I used to teach Sunday school to him!” I would chastise myself, though my partner just smiled and told me he was fine.
My partners were kind and instructive, teaching me to keep up my guard and develop self-control. Sparring is about clear, quick thinking, good conditioning and really seeing your opponent.
There is another sort of fight I have learned in my middle years. In the good fight of faith, I need to “wear my gear.” The full armor of God is essential if I want to stand firm and not get knocked off of my feet.
I need to focus my eyes on the goal: trusting God and sharing His love with others. It’s easy to get distracted, especially when life makes me tired. The more I trust Jesus, the more endurance I develop.
If a 57 year old mama can learn how to physically spar, there is hope for us all in life’s spiritual battles. So take courage! Put on your gear, the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). Fix your eyes on our Teacher, Jesus. He will lead us and help us to grow.
“…do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see…the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14, NIV).
Anna, good for you taking up karate! It has served to teach you about fighting for the faith as well. This was a wonderful analogy!