Dwight Fletcher | Stay in the fight

Happy New Year! I pray that 2024 will be your most prosperous and holy year yet.

2023 was a tough year for many. The first full year since COVID-19, and many of us had hoped that it would have been the calm after the storm.

Instead, on several fronts, the battles of life continue and have even increased – economically, relationally, professionally and spiritually – there are obstacles to overcome on every side. The culture around us is spiritually marred; it is opposed to God and His way. It is putting pressure on believers, and even non-Christians are experiencing the consequences of the failings – the degradation and the depraved living. No one is exempt.

As Christians, more and more we find that people are becoming hostile towards us who believe in Christ, and holding your stance requires strength. We are in a war. We war to resist, but we also war to take new territory.

One of the consequences of war is that it can wear us out emotionally and physically; it can lead to discouragement and make us feel like giving up or stepping back from the fight. We may be tempted to think, “Why am I fighting? What is this accomplishing?” Sometimes we may even be tempted to compromise our faith and think, “Why am I trying to live right? Everybody is doing it. If I just compromise a little bit, I could live a life of peace.”

Although the battle is challenging, these are the wrong thoughts to embrace. They hurt the heart of God and eventually hurt us. God does not look at this stance lightly. “ You have said terrible things about me,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘What have we said about you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It’s useless to serve God.’” Malachi 3:13-14.

One of the favourite strategies of darkness is to wear us down.

- To throw so much at us that we give up the fight.

- Show us so many bad examples that we give up the fight.

- Topple so many spiritual giants that we give up the fight.

There are too many Christians who are falling for the devil’s lies. When we are just about to achieve victory, the devil starts huffing and puffing, telling us that we will never win. We get scared and back away. Instead of pressing on in faith, we say, “Well, I guess I might as well give up! God isn’t going to answer me this time.” And we quit and lay our faith down.

But don’t give up! Stay in the fight! You may have lost a round or two; the devil may have taken you by surprise – economic loss, detrimental habits that you find hard to break – but these do not define you.Just because you have lost a few rounds does not mean that you have lost the whole battle. God is on His throne and He is on your side. With God’s help you can get your spiritual muscles built up, go back out there and meet the enemy at the centre ring and clinch your victory. God has kept you through the struggles, and He will continue to keep you. Fight the fight of faith and turn it around.

The Bible is clear – as long as the world exists there will always be a clash between good and evil. Believers will always be at war with the forces of darkness, and there will always be spiritual conflict; yet we are victors. Victory only comes when we stay in the fight. “ Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12 (NIV).

We have to fight with all God has given us and for all that God has promised us. We have to fight to take hold of eternal life. This is not only speaking about heaven, but it is also about laying hold of all the promises God has made to us to experience in the here and now, and in the life to come.

There is hope. Stay the course. Stay in the fight.