WEBVTT - Preparing for Battle

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Abide's Daily Christian Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss.

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<v Speaker 3>Welcome to this Abide Meditation. I'm Melissa. How's your spiritual readiness?

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<v Speaker 3>Olympic athletes spend hours upon hours and years training to

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<v Speaker 3>reach their peak physical condition. The goal? To win a

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<v Speaker 3>gold medal. Likewise, Troops train in boot camp, developing strategies

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<v Speaker 3>to wage war against both foreign and domestic enemies. For

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<v Speaker 3>just a moment, relax, settle your mind, as if you're

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<v Speaker 3>preparing for a pep talk with your coach, or to

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<v Speaker 3>hear an encouraging word from your army commander before going

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<v Speaker 3>into battle. Hear this from Psalm 1839. For you equipped

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<v Speaker 3>me with strength for the battle. You made those who

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<v Speaker 3>rise against me sink under me. Scripture instructs Christians to

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<v Speaker 3>be in training as well, but with a different goal

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<v Speaker 3>in mind. We are created to glorify God and spend

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<v Speaker 3>eternity with Him. It's really that simple. And just like

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<v Speaker 3>for athletes and soldiers, there are detractors, dream killers, who

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<v Speaker 3>seek to interrupt God's intended purpose for His people. Are

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<v Speaker 3>you training to defeat the enemies of God? Are you

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<v Speaker 3>equipped and prepared for battle? The very name of Jesus

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<v Speaker 3>is a spiritual weapon for believers. It puts in our

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<v Speaker 3>quiver the authority of God in defeating His enemies. Jesus

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<v Speaker 3>instructs us to use it when ministering to people and

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<v Speaker 3>equip ourselves for our earthly journey. Lord Jesus, please renew

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<v Speaker 3>my mind that I may think the holy and good

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<v Speaker 3>thoughts of a redeemed child. Holy Spirit, come and fill

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<v Speaker 3>me now. Give me strength for the battles. and endurance

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<v Speaker 3>to seek your will. Graciously release your gifts of faith, hope, love, discernment,

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<v Speaker 3>and praise. Keep me rooted in your living word that

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<v Speaker 3>is sharper than a two-edged sword against my enemy. In Jesus,

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<v Speaker 3>the Messiah's name, I pray. Amen. Now, position yourself before God.

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<v Speaker 3>As if preparing for battle, slowly stretch your neck to

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<v Speaker 3>the left and to the right, taking in slow breaths.

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<v Speaker 3>Open your heart to allow him to equip you with

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<v Speaker 3>his word. Acknowledge before the Lord any weaknesses that are

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<v Speaker 3>in the way of you being a soldier in God's army,

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<v Speaker 3>sins that could take you out and weaken your effectiveness.

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<v Speaker 3>Submit yourself to God through faith in Jesus Christ, who

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<v Speaker 3>by His life, death, and resurrection has defeated the evil one.

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<v Speaker 3>He will never leave you or forsake you. God will

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<v Speaker 3>arm you with the strength you need. Let's pray. Lord,

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<v Speaker 3>I've never felt weaker or more defeated in the battle

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<v Speaker 3>against evil. In your mercy, hold me upright in the

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<v Speaker 3>strength of your might. Guide my actions. May I lean

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<v Speaker 3>into your word as my protection. Increase my faith to

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<v Speaker 3>overcome temptation. Cover me, Lord, with your protection. In the

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<v Speaker 3>name of Jesus, bind every evil spirit trying to capture

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<v Speaker 3>my heart and my mind. In Jesus' precious name, amen.

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<v Speaker 3>Take a moment to rest here with God. Embrace in

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<v Speaker 3>full confidence that the battles in your life have already

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<v Speaker 3>been won. Until next time, may you abide in Christ.