Fighting Battles

Have you found yourself in the midst of battles lately?  I know I have.  Some of them are small battles - like the tons of laundry that needs to be done or the project deadline that is looming - but others are really big battles - like battles for our children, internal struggles, etc.  Whatever the battle, I am usually trying to figure out how to make everything work out, to make it all better (by my definition).  My husband would say it's because I like to be in control.  True....  so there's another battle, my battle to be in control when in reality there is not very much I have control over. 

I have been convicted that my desire to control equates to unbelief, and if my battles are to be won, I must have faith in The One who can win them on my behalf.  This can be difficult.  I wonder what if things don't work out the way I want them to or what if the process gets harder before anything changes.  This is why God reminds us in His word that all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28).  And, He also tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 that He knows the plans He has for us.  Plans to prosper us and not to harm us.  Plans to give us a future and a hope.  And, God means what He says.  He is true to His word.  His ways may not always be our ways, but they do have a higher purpose. 

Maybe, just maybe these battles are to teach me to rely fully on God and not on myself.  Maybe, He needs me to get to my weakest point to cry out to Him and surrender it to Him.  Maybe, He wants to see me grow into the woman He has called me to be.  Maybe, just maybe, these battles will help me minister to others.

And so, I will learn to surrender.  I will learn to give the battles to Him.  Instead of problem solving in my power, I will start "prayer solving".  I discovered this term reading The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson (great book so far).  I will share with you a brief excerpt from the book that really ministered to me and got me thinking about the battles and my approach to them (and how my current approach needs to change).  Mark says in his book "Circling Jericho gave the Isrealites a 360-degree perspective of the walled promise.  It helped them wrap their spirits around the mud-brick miracle.  That is exactly what prayer does.  It helps you get outside the problem.  It helps you circle the miracle.  It helps you see all the way around the situation.  The Isrealites didn't conquer Jericho because of a brilliant military strategy or brute force.  They learned how to let the Lord fight their battles for them."
I'm tired of fighting the battles.  It's time to let go and let God fight them!!!