--"I love you, LORD; you are my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
You are my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. ~~ [Psalm 18:1-2]

---LIKE A GOOD SOLDIER ~~ BEWARE OF THE ENEMY ~~

--"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer."
---[2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NIV) ] --

----As my friend Charlie Daniels told me, soldiers do not go to hard places because they want to travel; they go because someone sent them there. That we have an enemy is made clear throughout God’s Word, and He has sent us on assignment into enemy territory. Peter says that our enemy, the Devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, searching for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Paul says that we must put on the armor of God so that when the day of evil presents itself, we’ll be able to stand (Ephesians 6:10-17). Revelation is a message to help us flourish at the end of the age and is specifically written to one group of people: those who overcome. I will weep with you over the disappointments in your life, and I’ll walk with you through the shadowed valleys. But we cannot withdraw when the enemy shows up. We must be prepared to endure hardship in order to please our Commanding Officer.

THINK ABOUT IT
We may not have a military perspective or background, but through His Word and the power of His Holy Spirit, God has given us the tools we need in order to obey, practice discipline, and endure hardship. His joy and pleasure in us will be our strength.

PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, thank You for recruiting me into Your service. Help me to desire pleasing You above all things. May I consider all aspects of my life as training for endurance and perseverance that I might be an overcomer for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen."
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson
~~~~~~~