A good fight?

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:12)



"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. "
(Philippians 2:12-13 ESV) 



God continues to be at work in me as I strive to live out these two verses. 


What is the main force in our lives?  What drives us or compels us to do certain things?  Is there a driving force that dominates us?  While I think that there are a number of answers for these questions, I am beginning to see that there may be only one thing that should truly compel us in the way that we live.


Lately I have had a lot of loss in my life.  It's fair to say that I am in an intense season of grieving.  From the loss of my grandmothers, my dad, my unborn baby, and one of my dear friends, it's no wonder life is painful.  Pain had begun to dominate me.  While there is purpose in the pain, pain is not the purpose and is not what should be my driving force.  So God is at work in me to change my perspective to see beyond the pain.  No where in the Bible does God say that we will be without pain (this side of heaven).  In fact, Jesus pretty much tells us that we will have pain, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 
(John 16:33 ESV).  


I don't want the pain to be dominant anymore.  I want the driving force in me to be the Love who redeemed me from this life of sin and pain.  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. (John 14:15-19 ESV)  This is what I'm fighting for.  I'm fighting to know in the truth of God's love and the leading of His Spirit in the deepest, most painful parts of my heart so that I would not be driven by pain, but by the Spirit of God within me.  And that the result would be a fruitful life filled with joy (and the rest of the fruit of the Spirit) in His presence.


The awesome thing about all of this is that God is faithful and He will do this great work!!!  Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 
(1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV)


Helpful resources: