Becoming A Soldier for Christ - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - January 11
Becoming A Soldier for Christ
By: Alisha Headley
You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who enlisted him as a soldier. - 2 Timothy 2:3-4
It’s so hard to see the bigger picture in our day-to-day lives. To see that this life we are living is but a temporary one. To remember that this is our temporary home in our temporary physical bodies. It’s even harder to see the bigger picture when we are faced with trials or hardships of any kind.
I just celebrated another birthday, and this year on my birthday it made me think of where I am and where I thought things were ‘supposed to be’ at this point in my life. I’m coming up on my two year wedding anniversary and I thought we would have kids by now, and have a house with a white picket fence and the love story my husband and I had when we first fell in love would continue on for the rest of my life with absolutely no hiccups of any kind. But then real life happens, and you’re faced with trials of many kinds.
My marriage has walked through difficult times these first few years as newlyweds trying to navigate our new roles as husband and wife. Often times I am battling myself or battling my husband trying to sort out the matter at hand. The Holy Spirit recently reminded me of 2 Timothy 2:3-4. “you, therefore, must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”
It is in this Scripture that I am reminded of the bigger picture. I am on this earth as a soldier for the greatest leader in the biggest war of all time, God. I have been entrusted with the role of a soldier and as a wife. My marriage is my battlefield and my position is to be the wife and warrior God has called me to be.
What does it take to be a good soldier as this Scripture implies?
Part of being a good soldier is enduring hardship. Oftentimes in life, and in marriage, we want to run away. We want to shut down, and we want a quick fix to avoid any pain. Paul is writing in these Scriptures that we are to endure hardship and stand strong in the midst of difficulty.
Part of being a great soldier is not entangling yourself with the affairs of this life. The way I’ve been able to conquer this is to live life from a kingdom perspective. Not an earthly one. To look at your situation from above knowing that God is allowing this battle and He fighting this battle for you. When I entangle myself with my husband and the details around us, I have to remind myself that it is NOT him I am fighting, it is the enemy. Just as Scripture says in Ephesians 6, “for we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against powers of the dark world…”
Part of being a good soldier is aiming to please the one who enlisted you. God put you in the exact position you are in. Whether you are single or married. You have a specifically designated position. Whatever your position right now, it should be to aim to please God. And you do that by putting your focus on Lord Jesus himself, rather than on your situation and all the details of your situation.
Remember, our God is the greatest leader there is, and He has already won the war. We are promised that we have the victory in Christ Jesus. So put on your full armor (Ephesians 14:18) each and every day and stand strong when hardships arise knowing that we are enlisted as a soldier for Christ.
Alisha Headley is a writer and speaker who has a passion to meet the everyday woman in her everyday life with wisdom gained from personal experiences and Biblical truth. In her free time, Alisha enjoys working out, traveling with her hubby, styling her outfits, and date nights where she eats her favorite foods.
You can find Alisha here:
Blog: www.alishaheadley.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/alisha.herlifeblog
Instagram: www.instragram.com/alisha.headley
Looking for authentic conversations about how to deal with body image, insecurity, and comparison issues as a Christian woman? The Compared to Who? Podcast is the show for you! Twice a week, we tackle tough topics like dieting, disordered eating, weight loss, aging, body dysmorphia, and more from a practical, grace-filled, gospel-centered perspective.
