+Focused for conflict.

+Trained for combat.

+Hardened for battle.

+Ready for sacrifice.

+Covered by your buddies.

+Covering your buddies.

+Obedient to your captain.

+Dedicated to the cause.

+Complete commitment, not for glory or reward.

+Give all, spend all, leave all on the field of battle.

– – –

A soldier is not trained to negotiate.

A soldier is trained to kill the enemy and break his stuff.

– – –

What can Christians learn from a soldier ?

What can Christians learn from the Bible to make a soldier ?

– – –

America’s mindset about the military and war has changed, and along with it the mindset of the American church and American Christians has changed.

Americans are focused on avoiding conflict/war, believing we actually can avoid war, resulting in reducing our readiness for war, increasing our vulnerability to our enemies.

This is becoming obvious in America’s national security crisis.

This is not so obvious in America’s national spiritual crisis—with the church in a seriously weakened state.

For decades now the church has focused on feeling good and sounding positive and fitting in and following.

– – –

One way or another American Christians must learn how to be soldiers of the cross.

Biblical bootcamp may have felt foreign for some time now, but it will be familiar again soon.

Following Jesus is not easy – – –

“Fight the good fight of faith, and in the end receive the salvation of your souls.”

“Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

“We must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of heaven.”

“Finish out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

“You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood, striving against sin.”

“Remember those in prison for their faith, as though you are there with them.”

“Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.”

When anyone tells about making it through a difficult time, big or small—it matters who gets the credit.

When anyone tells about experiencing a wonderful time, big or small—it matters who gets the credit.

Some people are reluctant to mention God every time something works out, preferring to state a logical explanation—which may indeed have its place.

Some even say there are just things in life that we have to figure out and take care of ourselves.

They like to quote a verse that is not in the Bible, “God helps those who help themselves.”  In fact, that saying is contrary to the Bible, which teaches our total dependence on God.

If everything in our life, our very breath and heartbeat, exists and continues by God alone, then we do well to “acknowledge Him in all our ways,” and do so aloud whenever we have opportunity.

“Call upon Me . . .” How big an item or how little an item in our everyday life, matters enough to include God with conscious thought and verbal expression, with and without others hearing us?

As you can tell on this site, I like to wear out certain Bible verses—and definitely so in my own life.

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you, and you will glorify Me.”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

God gives us understanding, that we can use to create and figure and solve things, just like He gives us money to buy and do things.

The tricky part is trusting God with all our heart, and not depending on our understanding.

The tricky part is trusting God with all our heart, and not depending on our money.

How can you tell where your heart is, what you are trusting?

A good measure is what you say when you talk about everything you face day to day, and what you listen to, that others say.

Do you think you can say too much about God in everyday life?

Do you fear that others will think you say too much about God in everyday life?

Do you think about what God thinks of what you say about Him in everyday life?

What would please God more:

+Watching you figure things out yourself?

+Listening to you asking Him to help you in every situation (verbally, aloud and silently)?

What will work out better in the long run (and in the short run)—what you take credit for, or what you give God credit for?

What is your goal—success in getting stuff done, or success in a closer walk with Jesus day to day?