A TIME TO BATTLE                                                                                          Posted 1.17.08
1 KINGS 11-16

I have to admit right from the start, I do not love battles.  I don’t even like them.  I was tempted to cover chapters 11-16 in one week and be done with it.  Thankfully, the Lord is much wiser than I, and He does prevail. In fact, He sent me a very clear message through my daughter to prepare me for these lessons.

Kara plays girls’ basketball at her school.  She is a tall, post player, which means she is usually right under the basket and a very obvious target for opposing teams.  One particular game she kept getting hammered relentlessly, and the referees just would not call fouls against the offenders.  As I discussed my frustration with her the next day she said, “It’s okay.  It makes me a better player, and it makes me play harder.”

Out of the mouths of babes.  We must view battles in this way.  Many are completely unavoidable and require Kara’s wisdom – let them make you better.  Even those we “bring on ourselves” can be won much more easily when our goal becomes to not only “win” but also to become stronger in Jesus.