Time for a pep talk...

"I came to win, to fight, to conquer...to fly..."


These are lyrics from Nicki Minaj's song, "Fly" and I'm going to totally take them out of context and make them into a biblical pep talk that I hope will give me fire to fight and hopefully, you too.


"I came to win."  I came to DC to share Christ boldly.  I came to DC to teach others how to do the same.  I came to DC to help proclaim the ONLY message of freedom there is--that Jesus Christ alone saves.  There are people in this city living in bondage and darkness without hope.  I came to win them to Christ.


*****Let me cover all of my bases and make sure my heart in writing this is not misunderstood. (In other words, here's the "small print disclaimer" for all of my seminary trained friends. ;)  I don't think that God needs me.  He can use any monkey to proclaim his message and I just happen to be the monkey writing this blog.  I also don't think that I personally can do anything good apart from Christ.  I don't view myself as some super hero or think that I am capable of anything apart from Him.  I didn't move here because of a noble heart or because I'm a good person.  I long to share Christ with others because I was a hopeless wretch, sitting in the mud and filth of my sin when Christ so graciously rescued me.*****


I want you to know that I am writing this because sometimes you just need to give yourself a good pep talk and I hope this blog will serve to not only reignite my own passion and desire to fight for Christ but that it might serve to be a pep talk to anyone else who the enemy is currently attacking.  I have been experiencing spiritual warfare at a heightened level this week.  Without going into the details, it has been a time where the enemy has sought to discourage me in several areas of my life.  I have seen some outright Satanic things happening right before my very eyes--things that have been intended to discourage me.  I'm not a person who will quickly point to spiritual warfare so I assure you that when I say that I have felt the hand of the enemy trying to push me around, I mean it.  Even as  I type this, my soul feels tired and I am fighting the battle.  So when I sat down this morning to spend time with the Lord, I became convicted that I need to passionately renew my vows to God where everyone can see and lean on a Savior who is greater than anything the enemy can throw my way.  It is my way of thumbing my nose at the enemy, laughing in his face and loudly proclaiming that yes, even today, I will boldly seek to share and live for Christ. 


"I came to win."  We know from Romans 8:37 that we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.  I came to DC to help my church win people to Christ.  "I came to win" over the battles that the enemy might  throw my way.  To win over the temptations, trials and sufferings that I might encounter.  Our culture has taken the word "win" and has made it something equal to fame, wealth and self-esteem. Winning, in America, is something that we earn and is based on our deeds.  I spit in the face of that definition.  Winning as a Christian has nothing to do with my good deeds or my bad deeds.  The only way I can win is by committing my life to Christ and depending on His good deeds to give me the identity of a winner.  The outworking of that winning faith is sharing the Gospel with others because when you love someone you constantly tell Him and you tell others how much you love Him.  So even if I have nothing materially, if I serve the Lord and seek to bring Him glory even through my failures, then I am winning---not because of what I do but because Christ already won the battle at the cross for me and because I have placed my faith in what Christ did at the cross as payment for my sin, when God looks at me, he doesn't look at my good works.  He sees Christ in me.  Because my identity is in Christ, I am a winner based on Christ's life--not mine.


"To fight."  As we set out to share Christ with our neighbors, co-workers, friends, family and strangers, we better rest assured that we are fighting a very real spiritual battle.  I confess that I haven't been living my life in a way that acknowledges this great battle and I think it is why my soul feels like it has taken a beating--because I haven't been looking and leaning to God the way I should.  1 Peter 5:6-10 points out my sin and how I correct it.  "Humble yourselves, therefore under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time, he may exalt you.  Casting all your anxieties on Him for he cares for you."  Here is my sin.  I have been apathetic in my prayer life in regards to sharing the Gospel in DC.  I haven't been on my knees praying nearly as hard and as long as I need to.  This must and will change.  I must humble myself and rely on God to provide for everything.  I must, as  my good friend, Herb, exhorted me this morning, lean on my sword (My Bible) and then watch God unleash His mighty conquering power which is based on those truths.  Verse 9 goes on to say, "Be sober minded. Be alert.  Your adversary, the devil,  prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone he can devour.  Resist him firm in your faith."  Do you hear that?  He prowls around like a roaring lion.  This isn't some passive attack.  He is fierce and looking.  He wants to devour us by discouragement, unbelief and temptation to sin.  I confess that I haven't been as alert as I need to be.  I have to understand that the enemy wants to silence me, slow me down and discourage me.  You need to understand that he is doing this to you too. He is fierce but our God crushed him at the cross so he does not have the victory.  Christ does.  We must be alert and as James exhorts us, we must flee from the devil and draw near to God.  Verse 11 teaches us what happens when we draw near to God, "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." There's the promise. 


I want to end this pep talk by sharing with you, my friend, Herb Young's, exhortation to me.


 "Michelle,


I never imply to speak for God, but I am so impressed that you must realize that these curses are not leveled at you.  This hate is for God.  You walk this earth as an ambassador.  You represent God and this man represents the father of lies and he spews them at you.  It is not even about you, it is about who you represent.  I'm sure defensively, God has shielded you but you have been struck hard and wounds hurt.  You represent the army of the Living God.  This time you are the front line.  You now draw your sword not in your own defense but for the glory of the One we serve. With a pure heart and no malice, God will use you in this fight.  But it is his not yours. When this sword is drawn, it is unleashed."


Let us all keep persevering in our faith.  I encourage you to meditate on 1 Peter 5:6-10 and boldly step forward to fight the battle with Christ.  Win others to Him.  It is the only truth.


"I came to win."