Stand up and fight

I have to admit I've always been more of a fighter than a peace maker. I enjoy fights (not physical... haha) and sometimes I've even been known to pick them. More than fighting, I love to win. It's just my nature and I'm not always proud to admit that. Sometimes winning becomes my motive. It's not about the fight or about why I'm doing it... if I win I'm happy. It can become disaster when my flesh gets in the way. Although the mentality has gotten me some good places in my life, it's also gotten me some not so good places. Like any trait we possess, it can be turned and used for good. God can make something of my competitive winning attitude and use it for HIS good.

(If you have not seen the movie the Patriot and care, do not continue reading) In one of my favorite movies, The Patriot, Mel Gibson's character, William has just lost his son in war. He was terrified for his son's life and his greatest fear came true. William left his family to fight with his son, but when he was killed, he wanted to go home. They challenged him to stand up and fight with them anyway. He left, but when he remembered what he was fighting for... he comes riding up on a horse carrying an American flag... it's one of the most moving scenes in the movie. I don't usually have a problem with standing up and fighting, but that energy needs to be focused in the right direction. Instead of fighting or arguing with everyone that comes in my path or everything that doesn't go my way, I need to focus that energy on fighting the true battle... the one for Christ. I need to remember that he's already won the war... I'm just doing my part to gain soldiers for this battle. God wants us to fight... even when we don't feel like it and even when we're so tired we can't see straight... he desires to have all of us giving him everything we can. Honestly, is that a whole lot to ask for considering he sent his son to die for us? In the grand scheme of things... not only does it not seem like that much, it doesn't feel like it's enough...