God Is In My Battle

Contributed by:
Becky Johnson
women's life director

In the last few weeks, we’ve been in the midst of a great series entitled “Unshakable”. We’ve learned that when we find ourselves in the middle of circumstances that leave us feeling shaken, God is Unshakable. In our world today, it’s easy to feel shaken.

Our family found ourselves in shaken circumstances just the other day. My oldest son, Ben, has recently taken up cycling. He’s joined the Campus Crusade for Christ Little 500 Team at IU and has been riding like crazy ever since. Last week, he had his first road race. He was to ride three eight mile laps on a course of country roads near Warsaw with about 50 other riders. We were there to cheer him on. Truthfully, I was pretty nervous about this, these guys move pretty fast and accidents can happen. However, I told myself to relax…people ride bikes every day, right? As the first two laps were completed, he was right in the thick of the pack and placing really well. He was having a lot of fun and so were we. However, when his group was delayed in coming around for the third lap, my little world began to shake. As riders from his group began to come across the finish line and Ben wasn’t there, my world shook a little more. We soon learned there had been a wreck and riders were down. Not knowing what this meant and if Ben was a downed rider, our world shook a whole lot more. We were instructed to take our car and head to the scene and so we quickly did. Our world was shaking…

This past weekend, Ron taught us about Jehovah Nissi, the name God uses to identify Himself as “The Lord, our Banner”. Our big point was to remember that God, as Jehovah Nissi, meets us in our battle to arm us with power to overcome the assaults of the enemy. When life gets shaky, the enemy seeks to deceive, isolate, attack and destroy us. On the day of the bike race, the enemy did exactly that as a battle took place in my mind. Fears, worries and “what ifs” began attacking my mind…what if he’s seriously hurt, what if he’s in pain and we’re not there, what if, what if, what if?

Ron encouraged us to know our enemy and to know his battle plans. He pointed out that Satan is a created being and therefore, he’s not God. He’s limited in power, but determined to destroy. He’s destined for destruction himself one day. However, until that day comes, the enemy has a plan to deceive us into believing less of our sin, into isolating ourselves from the help of others, attacking us where we are weak and to destroy the work of God in us. Satan put this battle plan in action that day with me and none of us that are exempt from his attempts.

In knowing about our enemy and about his plan, Ron shared with us the great news that we can position ourselves for victory and not defeat. We have victory when we understand that we need Truth (God’s Word is our Truth and Shield), prayer (be alert and keep praying), others (Moses had Aaron and Hur) and God (keep our eyes focused not on the battle but on God). Much like Moses and the Israelites, we need Jehovah Nissi, God our Banner. It’s not our might that wins the battle but God’s!

The day of the bike race, the enemy was battling for my mind…would I allow the enemy to control it with fear and worry…or would I raise “my staff” and look to God, my Banner? Believe me, I prayed and as I did, a few words from Scripture came to mind... “Take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5), “Think on things that are true” (Philippians 4:8). God was using Truth to fight my battle. Halfway to our car, a friend yelled out to us that Ben was back. He had gotten caught up in the wreck, but he was ok. A banged up shoulder and bike and a few x-rays later, we knew Ben needed a few days rest and he would be good to go. But the best lesson in the shakiness of the situation was that God is our Banner….He was there in my battle! He’s there in yours too!

1. What battle are you currently facing?
2. What Scriptures can speak truth in your situation? Who could come around you to walk through your situation with you?
3. How can you focus on God, your Banner, rather than your own strength?