“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” — John 10:10 (NLT)
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Winning coaches know that games are won long before they start. Preparation is key. No skilled coach would ever enter a crucial game without a well-thought-out game plan.
Players put in countless hours of mental and physical preparation, becoming familiar with plays and coverages for every possible game situation. Analyzing game film and detailed scouting reports on the opponent is crucial — and often time consuming! These reports highlight the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. What do they do well? Where do they struggle?
Understanding these details allows coaches and players to strategize effectively and execute their game plan with precision.
So why do we, as Christians, tend to face our daily battles so flippantly? We often wake up each morning, stumbling into a full-on spiritual battle as our day unfolds and we are not prepared.
The reality is, there’s a war going on and our minds are the battlefield. We have a real enemy who wants nothing more than to defeat us. John 10:10 (NLT) warns us, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.”
Satan’s game plan is strategic. He starts by bombarding our minds with a carefully crafted pattern of nagging thoughts, suspicions, doubts, fears, wonderings, reasonings and theories.
He’s been scouting you for a long time. He knows what you like and don’t like, your insecurities, your weaknesses, and your fears. He knows what bothers you most and how to push your buttons. He’s willing to invest any amount of time to defeat you and cancel your influence in the Kingdom of God.
But God is fighting on our side and He never loses a battle!
God has already defeated the enemy. He has equipped us with spiritual weapons to win the battle. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete” (2 Corinthians 10:4-6).
God has already defeated the enemy. His game plan never fails. We are fighting from victory, not for victory.
Today, let’s gear up with God’s armor and follow His game plan. Dedicate time to prayer and immerse yourself in His Word. Equip yourself with His truth and promises. Prepare for battle, knowing that with God’s strength and guidance, we can face any challenge that comes our way. God wins!
— Melissa Motes
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