The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV
In Christ, we have access to powerful spiritual weapons, but many times we find ourselves improperly armed for the battles we are facing. The apostle Paul speaks of a “divine power” that has the ability to destroy strongholds. What is it that power? It’s God’s amazing grace. Grace is unmerited, and it’s available to all believers. But we must choose to wield it. God won’t force it into our hands.
God’s grace is sufficient to help us overcome any hardship, for grace empowers us to go beyond our natural ability. Yet most believers see grace as merely a cover-up for sin and a ticket into heaven. No wonder more believers aren’t distinguishing themselves as radiant lights in a dark world—there is nothing to radiate! But when we truly grasp that God’s grace is His empowering presence in our lives, we are able to take up the weapons He has placed before us.
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. …You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:1, 3 NKJV)
Paul exhorted Timothy to be strong in the grace. He didn’t tell him to have the best comeback, to have the most Christian friends, or to be quick enough to outrun his persecutors. Paul knew grace was the weapon Timothy needed to finish successfully.
The enemy is not going to let us easily impact the world for Jesus. He is adamantly opposed to our mission, and we will have to press through opposition and resistance to accomplish our God-given goals.
…We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand…. (Romans 5:2 NKJV)
Grace never fails us, but sometimes our faith wanes. When this happens, we are cut off from grace and must fight in our own strength. To avoid failure, we have to build ourselves up in faith. We do this by getting into God’s Word.
If your faith is failing, go to the Word. Then praise, worship, and thank God for who He is. Declare and express gratitude for His provision. Pray in the Spirit. Doing these things keeps us connected to grace.
Lift up your tired hands, then, and strengthen your trembling knees! Keep walking on straight paths… Guard against turning back from the grace of God…. (Hebrews 12:12-13, 15 TEV)
To turn back from the grace of God is to shift into neutral and become complacent to the enemy’s resistance. If we aren’t constantly being strengthened by God’s grace, we will eventually give up, for we cannot successfully fight our enemy in our own ability. The amazing news if that, even if you are worn out and considering want to give up, you can still find renewed strength in God’s grace. Pray:
Father, I thank You for the gift of Your amazing, empowering grace. Thank You for pulling me out from where I was before You saved me. Holy Spirit, I do not want to give up. I know that I can only keep going with Your empowerment. I recognize that this fight I’m in is not a game; it’s a war. I want to finish strong and be relentless in faith. I choose to step into my calling and take up the weapon of Your grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Adapted from Relentless (WaterBrook Press, 2011).
