I grew up watching American Gladiators on TV. (Shout out to the other 80’s & 90’s kids!) It. Was. Awesome. I sat enraptured as the competing athletes used those foam covered poles (or Pugil sticks) to knock their opponent off their center of balance, fall off the podium and tumble into the water below. Saturday night entertainment at its finest. The trick was to hold your center of balance while simultaneously knocking your opposition off of theirsā¦..I was convinced that I would be a genius at it, because I was such a huge fan. Decades later, at an indoor trampoline park I played a round with my husband, and letās just say Iām not quite the gladiator I thought I was. He knocked me off the plankā¦.and it only took me about two years to get out. The entire pit was filled with foamy blocks that smooshed and squished under your weight causing an exit to become nearly impossible. Looking back, I can’t help but think about the importance of holding our ground, so we donāt get knocked down in the first place. It’s a discipline to stand firm while simultaneously causing the opposition to fall.Ā Lesson learned.
Our hearts, minds and spirits are very much the same…..life presents no shortages of challenges that knock us down, right?!? We can get lost in a downward spiral when our creativity level or talents feel like they fall short because of comparison. Our stress level skyrockets when we have a fight with someone in our family. Any number of financial setbacks that we encounter daily, monthly, annually threaten to take us down. We need to be trained to stand firm in the the solid truth of Godās word so when weāre in the heat of battle weāre equipped to hold our ground, and knock out the lies of the enemy. I love pairing truth/ a phrase to mediate on so I’m ready to remind myself when my feet start slipping. Here’s 3 go-to verses to help draw you back to truth and help your heart to stand its ground when opposition comes.
1. You are loved
āBut in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.ā Romans 8:37-39
Remembering that you are loved is one of the biggest challenges the enemy comes against. Whether you made a mistake, had an accident or just royally blew itā¦.it doesnāt cancel the fact that you are extravagantly loved. Hold onto Godās unconditional love, let it sink from your head to your heart and get. back. up.
2. Remain Faithful + Abide
āIf you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.ā John 15:7-9
We love to be productive busy bees- but that should never take precedence over the priority of being with Jesus. Abiding takes work, (or training in this context) but that doesnāt mean that it isnāt worth the effort. Remaining rooted and established in Godās presence helps us to remain strong regardless of what comes at us. Abiding is an intentional work that serves us well- we remember Jesus is the source and our work for him is only done through relationship with him. We canāt flourish apart from abiding. So trust him, and cultivate a faithful lifestyle of abiding.
3. There is an overflow of hope for you
āI pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.ā Romans 15:13
Hope is a work in our hearts and lives that only God can do. He is the source, and his desire is to fill us with joy, and peace as we trust in him results in a hope that is so abundant- it overflows. This is one verse we can go back to again and again and again to get a refill. We need hope, and the world around us needs our overflow. Pray this verse until you can confidently stand your ground, but do it knowing God is willing and wanting for you to be filled with overflowing hope.
As a final note, I feel the need to remind all of us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) That means we donāt get condemned, or shame filled when weāre knocked off-balance, or even knocked down. The enemy would love to keep you there, so don’t even give him a foothold! My goal in sharing the above passages is simply this- to arm you to stand your ground when life, mistakes, sin, brokenness or the world comes against you. Take this as a challenge to pick your own verses that will help you to stand your ground, and keep walking in victory!
Much love,
Joy