Last time we paused on the seven (7) questions to ask yourself in a battle of life. I would like us to continue elaborating these seven (7) important questions today. So let us rewind a little to remember these important questions before going into their details.
How To Know A Battle Is Worth Fighting In Your Life
Now the question is, do you need to fight every battle in your life? The answer is no. And why should you not fight every battle in your life? The answer is because not every battle is worth fighting. So how do you know a battle is worth fighting? I would like to share with you what I do to know if a battle in my life is worth fighting or not. I ask myself the following questions:
1- Why or what is the reason of the battle?
2- Is the cause or reason in the will of God (would God fight this battle)?
3- Will this bring glory and honor to God?
4- Is it not my pride or ego enticing me to fight this battle?
5- Is it not my selfishness motivating me to fight this battle?
6- What could be the worst cost or price I may pay in this battle?
7- After the battle, then what? What life will be like after winning or losing the battle?
Why or what is the reason of the battle?
It is very important to know and understand the reason why you want to fight or continue fighting for something or a dream in your life. Again, knowing and understanding the reason why you are fighting a battle in your life can keep you courageous, decisive, determined, focused and powerful to do all you can at your best knowledge and strength to win the battles of your life. You need to know why you need to work hard and smart to make it in life. You need to know why you want to go back to school or further your education and, or graduate no matter what challenges you are facing. You need to know why you are fighting to keep your marriage or relationship together. You need to know why you don’t want to give up on your children despite their rebellion. You need to know why you are moving through the difficulties of your business or career. You need to know why you cannot quit your ministry.
Is the cause or reason in the will of God?
This second question is vital. Remember when the Pharisees and Scribes were trying to prevent the Apostles to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ after several attempts, then Gamaliel one of the Pharisees stood up and said, “And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it–lest you even be found to fight against God” (Acts 5: 38-39, NIV). The truth is that, as a child of God you need to know if the battle you are fighting in an area of your life is of God, because sometimes you may be fighting the wrong battle or doing the wrong thing thinking you are doing the right thing. This could be about your relationship, marriage, children, career, business, education or ministry – Make sure you are doing what God wants you to do.
How do you know your battle is in the will of God? To find out, you may ask yourself these questions: will God fight this battle Himself? Is the cause or reason Godly or has a Biblical ground or motive? What is the Word of God saying about the cause or reason of the battle you are fighting in your life? Are you the one God wants to do this? Is This God wants for you? Now, if God would not fight that battle, if the cause does not have any Biblical ground, if the Word of God is against the cause or reason, if you are not the one God wants to do that particular thing, and if this is not what God wants for you, then it is not a battle worth fighting because it is not in the will of God primarely. And because is not in the will of God, you may find out at the end of everything that you are fighting against God in the reason that, who is not doing the will of God is not with God, and who is not with God is against God. Therefore, it is important to carefully pray and find out if what you are fighting for is in the will of God for your life, or the life of others if you were fighting for them – lest you would not have the approval of God for the battle and you will surely regret it sooner or later.
Will this bring glory and honor to God?
God declared, “I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images” (Isaiah 42: 8, NKJ). Often, if you are not careful and sober, you may fight some battles in your life because of your ego, selfishness, trying to please people and be noticed as strong, holy, spiritual, intelligent and wise. If you are fighting a battle in your life because of these reasons, you are surely fighting it for your honor pretending is for God’s honor. The truth is, God knows if you are really doing what you are doing for His glory and honor or not. You can fool human beings, but not God. Sometimes there are situations in our lives where we don’t want people to see us as losers, and we try to fight at the price or cost of pain, struggles and loss of time, energy and money. Only fight battles in your life that you know, that you know, that you know is worth fighting and will bring glory and honor to God. If you know the house you want to buy, the car you want to buy, the wedding you want to have, the degree you want to have, the business you want to start or holding unto is not for the glory and honor of God, then let it be as God wants. God can purposefully take you from something or something from you and refuse or deny you something because He knows it has nothing to do with His glory and honor; and the only reason why you are fighting for it is your ego.
What could be the worst cost or price I may pay in this battle?
Even though we fight for something we believe is worth fighting for, you need to evaluate the cost or even the worst price you could pay in some fight for your life. If you would use your time, energy, money, knowledge, and wisdom for a period of time or your entire life to fight for something in your life and the result or benefit would not be something God and you can be proud of, you need to think twice. If the payoff, of whatever you are fighting for in life would only be shame, embarrassment, and regret, that battle is not worth fighting. Even though some fight can always bring embarrassment at a point, the good fight would always bring satisfaction, a sense of pride and fulfillment after all. Think about this, if sooner or later you would regret the fight for a dream or vision and what it cost you in your life, don’t fight for it or go after it. When you fight for a good dream or vision in your life, you would never regret it even if you pay a dear price for it; because you know it was worth it for your life, your husband, your wife, your children, your business, your career, your ministry, your relatives, your family, and even for your descendants or the next generations to come.
After the battle, then what? What life will be like after winning or losing the battle for your dream?
Image yourself in the after the fight for the dream of your life: If you win, what life would be like, if you lose, what life would be like; then, prepare yourself for how you could handle each result.
Willie Yeboah
To be continued.
