Tonight we are in prayer for a family close at hand. We are reminded of our own struggles in similar areas and we are reminded of the very real battle we all do face as saved believers. I am reminded of the battle that was waged for me eleven years ago and of the hard fought victory that was won by the mighty hand of Jesus, through the prayers of the church, the faithfulness of the saints.

My wife reminded me tonight of the dire need to not "move from the wall", the hedge of protection that must be mounted around our children. We must be firmly planted on the wall, not allowing the cares of this world to distract us, not allowing the wiles of the enemy to move us off our God appointed post.

Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus, Chapter 6, verses 10-18, from the Amplified Bible:

"In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].". (Amplified Bible)

Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.

Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people)

As the people of God, as His children, as His chosen and bonded saints, we fight. We fight or we are defeated in this world.

All armies have a purpose, to overcome the enemy. We, saved believers, have a purpose as the "Army of God", to stand against the enemy.

Satan and his troops fight, not against God, but against you and me, God's army in this world. We have a need to resist the strategies of the devil. The war is real.

Put on the armor God prepared for you to use in this battle. Use it. Use it in the confident knowledge that Jesus won the victory, but we must maintain the peace, in the power of the Holy Spirit, using the weapons and strategies God left here for us.

It's a real war and there are very real casualties; our children, our spouses, our families, our friends, our cities, our countries.

Some deny the existence of Satan and his demon warriors as myth, fantasy, metal illness, or as some aspect of the bible long gone and "not for today". He is real, he is here today and he will be with us to the "end of the age". We have a need to be mindful, to be prepared and to not waiver; to stand.

Stand, hold your ground, lift up the shield, swing the sword.

Chuck Swindoll mentions 1 Corinthians 16:13 as a charge to men, to dads.

Verses 13 and 14 state, "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.".

This is a man in the faith, alert, standing rock solid, not confused about who he is, strong and unwavering, uncompromisingly filled with the love of God for those around him.

I want to be like this. Father God, help me to be like this.

Help me to keep my mind, my eyes, my ears open to the truth and to not be misled in any thing, by anyone. Help me keep watch over my family and friends.

Help me keep my feet firmly planted on The Rock. The Truth has set me free, hold me up that I may not waver in any direction.

Father, I want to be the man You designed me to be, confirmed in You.

Give me the strength to endure the trials that beset me and to give a solid arm to those who need the same from me.

Help me to love, my God, with a pure and undefiled passion that overflows of Your love. Help me to be slow to anger and quick to forgive. Help me show my wife and my children You, working in me.

Help me Lord, to be a man.

Git R Done!

Long before Larry the Cable Guy lifted this bit of southern dialect from Ben Johnson's character in John Wayne's "Rio Grande", Jesus reminded us to be about our Father's work.

In John 9:4 Jesus states, "As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.".

We have work to do and we need to be steadfast about it.

As we begin our new year, I challenge you to keep Jesus' challenge fresh in your mind, and ask you to hold me accountable to the same.

Our Lord has given to all of us the discipleship commission found in Matthew 28, the task of spreading the Good News, to be a specific light to and in a dark and dying world.

Each one of us will also be given specific tasks from our Lord, using our personal spiritual gifts, to further accomplish His will in a variety of arenas.

We are designed to be involved, to be participants in God's plan for this world. Each one of us has a responsibility to seek out and discover the Lord's specific call on our life and then to "Git R Done" to God's glory!