Guest Post by Katy Kauffman - Life is a Battle: Arm Yourself

For years I wanted to be the princess-turned-warrior or the female Robin Hood or a Jedi knight. I assigned “warrior” status to the heroes in books and movies or to the real–life heroes of our armed forces, and I wanted to be like them. It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I realized God was calling me to be a warrior, a spiritual warrior.

Are you sure, God? Me?

I’m the girl who was painfully shy as a child, the quiet one of the group who always listened but didn’t say much. I’m the eight-year-old clown in Brazil who hid her face when the kids came running to see our mission team. I’m the young adult who didn’t even let her green beans touch her mashed potatoes!

And You want me to be a warrior, God? How is that even possible?

It wasn’t until I read Psalms, Ephesians, and 2 Timothy that I really understood the concept of a spiritual warrior. The small but powerful book of 2 Timothy shows the spiritual battles we face as believers in Christ and how to overcome them. Spiritual battles are all around us.

What battles do you face? On a daily basis, whether it’s at school, work, in the neighborhood, or at home, we face temptations, struggles, and conflict. The world tries to conform us to its way of thinking, dressing, partying, and acting. Satan seeks to ensnare us with temptation, selfishness, and indifference. We battle peer pressure, uncertainty about the future, a critical spirit, and self-reliance. 

A war rages for our peace, our purity, our soundness, and our impact for God’s kingdom.

So what resources has God given us so we can be His spiritual warriors? God equips His soldiers with all the right gear. He arms us for each and every battle we face. 2 Timothy Ch.1 tells us what spiritual resources God gives us so we can fight our battles and win.

Which resources do you need this week? They are yours for the taking:

• Grace, mercy, and peace  (verse 2)
• Genuine faith  (v.5)
• The gift of God which is in you  (v.6)
• A spirit of power, love, and a sound mind  (v.7)
• The power of God  (v.8)
• Sound words  (v.13)
• Faith and love which are in Christ Jesus  (v.13)
• The Holy Spirit who dwells in us  (v.14)

Above all, stay in God’s Word. Stay close to His heart. As you go about your daily routine, remember what God has given you to help you to overcome daily problems. You don’t face your battles alone. God is with you. He loves you through each struggle, provides what you need to win, and guides you to victory if you look to Him. That’s how a warrior wins—by staying close to the Commander, following His lead, using what He’s provided, and giving their all for God and His purposes. Life’s a battle. But in God, we can win. Stay armed!

© Copyright 2014 by Katy Kauffman

➙ About Katy:

Katy Kauffman is the author of 2 Timothy: Winning the Victory, a Bible study on how to win the spiritual battles of life and ministry. She is a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies and a graduate of Luther Rice Seminary. Her heart’s desire is for people to know and love God, understand the richness of His Word, and fulfill His plan for their lives. She makes her home in a cozy suburb of Atlanta, Georgia.

➙ Important Links:

• Katy’s Blog
• Katy’s Facebook page
• Twitter
• Katy’s book on Amazon, available as an e-book or apaperback