Encouragement for your soul. The last two Rules of engagement to strengthen you for life’s battles.
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SUGGEST READING PARTS 1 & 2 FIRST BEFORE PARTS 3 and 3b: COMBAT ZONE: PART 1—YOUR SOUL and COMBAT ZONE: PART 2—SOUL NUANCES
READING TIME: 3 MINUTES plus end scripture list.
Yes, the battle rages around (and in) us. But God is a mighty, mighty warrior—LORD of the battle. His ways always win. So breathe in His rest, comfort, stillness. His power, majesty, and loving faithfulness will never fail you.
And keep these last two Rules of Engagement in mind.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT #4:
KNOW YOUR WEAPON
Be prepared—in season and out of season.
Go through basic training and refresher trainings with your weapon (the Word of God), just like a soldier needs to qualify for live-fire drills—and the real thing. Because this daily battle you and I are in is always the real deal.
SO STAY IN HIS WORD. It is life, it is renewing, it is Truth that will show you where to walk and help you not be derailed in your soul journey down here.
Check out this insightful passage from the New Testament (the Soul Nuances are inserted to help connect the dots for you) . . .
Hebrews 4:12. See, the Word of God is alive! It is at work and is sharper than any double-edged sword — it cuts right through to where soul meets spirit [dividing where those Hebrew soul/spirit words intersect—neshama, ruach/spirit, nefesh ] and where joints meet marrow [dividing where your vessel/body’s inner parts intersect], and it is quick to judge the inner reflections and attitudes of the heart.
PRAYER! Full-on, distractions blocked. Prayer is warfare in the spiritual realm. It’s where the war is won, really. With that, I’d strongly add worship since worship is battle—and it is prayer. The two work together, interlocked for intense spiritual fighting, using both simultaneously.
James 5:16 nails it simply: The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
So crank up powerful worship music, grab your Bible, humble yourself before the Lord, and get to it!
Sing-pray His Word through the attacks, valleys, and even on those mountaintops to keep a lookout and get prepared in season and out of season.
[Recommendation: My go-to music is Rick Pino’s worship songs—from his warfare albums to his stirring songs before the Lord. Hands down, he is an anointed worship leader and his team is amazing. I had the privilege of meeting him briefly after one of his musical events in Santa Rosa, CA when I lived in the Bay. God had used Rick’s music to get me through a deeply difficult time.]
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT #5:
KEEP COMMUNICATION LINES OPEN—AND STAY ALERT
This is soul-to-soul communication, yours and God’s. Report what’s going on, what you see, what you’ve done, what you need—and wait for God to respond and lead. Sometimes you aren’t to speak—just still your soul and listen.
Psalm 42:7, a downtrodden soul [nefesh per the line prior] calls out to God: Deep [tehom, תְּהוֹם, subterranean waters of the soul] is calling to deep at the thunder of Your waterfalls; all Your surging rapids and waves are sweeping over me.
There, in the deep part of your soul, humbled and hungry to reach His soul’s deep, is where holy communication is sparked, where you discover yet another layer of who He is, what He is, where He’s moving, how He’s guiding you, what He’s saying to you for this season of your life.
HIS WATERFALL OF REFRESHMENT FLOWS FROM HIS THRONE, RELEASING . . .
revelations
prophetic actions
words of knowledge
wisdom
discernment & understanding
provisions
His never-ending
L
O
V
E
mercy & grace
long-suffering
forgiveness
THAT’S HOW YOU CAN STAY SPIRITUALLY IN SYNC WITH HIM.
BECAUSE REMEMBER: THE ENEMY IS ON THE PROWL.
Always, as it so happens. So be ready for hostile fire. He roams the world to see who he can devour, derail, destroy.
Watch out for the big sweep: So-called spirituality—as the term is used in the world today—that brashly proclaims there are “many ways to God.” It’s another tool of the enemy. False roads leading to death, not God’s eternal life.
You won’t find God’s truth in . . .
~ rote mantras
~ transcendental meditation</p>
~ crystals
~ astrology & tarot cards
~ trance-like states, psychics, palm readers
~ or all the rest of the “New” Age and one-world religious systems
Same goes for fashioning your version of God . . . that’s called idolatry.
Securing your position in Him is about connecting with Him on His terms and His Word, not the world’s, not yours, not mine.
God has made His terms clear from Genesis onward, revealing His holy character, His holy desires, His holy ways.
READ THIS FINAL COMBAT ZONE POST WITH A FILM NOIR BENT. COMBAT ZONE: PART 4—SOUL VIA A FILM NOIR LENS
SCRIPTURES: BE ENCOURAGED
Exodus 34:6 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.
Lamentations 3:22-23 The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 6:5 & Matthew 22:37. You are to love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Psalm 55:16-18, 22 . But I call to God, and the Lord will save me.
Evening and morning and at noon, I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.
He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me.
Cast your burden on the Lord,and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Matthew 11:29. [And Jesus/Yeshua said] Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
John 4:23-24. But the hour is coming—indeed, it’s here now—when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
PHOTO CREDIT
Sniper girl photo by Piotr Will on Unsplash.com
