Paradox

Certain things seem contradictory but in fact are truths. These statements are called “paradoxes”. Let me present one to you that deals with our spiritual battles:

Our victory lies in our surrender.

At first glance, that may seem to be a self-refuting argument. But it’s not. On our own power and will, we will never be successful in battle. Our own strength will grow weak and fail; our wants and desires may be different from Jesus’. Only by surrendering our wills to His can we be successful in our campaigns.

A warrior cannot rush off headlong into battle without first receiving marching orders from his Commander. Likewise we must yield our desires to Christ’s. He sees the big picture and things we do not. He and He alone will direct us to victory.

This is the most important—and perhaps hardest— trait of a Warrior In Training: a surrendered will to Christ. Nothing else matters besides knowing Him and living for His glory. Paul says we can only have one master: Jesus, or someone/thing else. We cannot be an effective warrior by serving another commander.

If there is anything in your life which comes between you and absolutely wholeheartedly serving God, it must go. Surrender it at Jesus’ feet. If you are struggling through life, holding something back until now, let it go. Jesus promised “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30) But that leads to another post altogether. Lay your will down at Christ’s feet, never to pick it up again. Living for Christ is worth far more than you can ever loose in surrender.

“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” ~ Philippians 3:8