{"id":11455,"date":"2013-04-29T00:01:52","date_gmt":"2013-04-29T04:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=11455"},"modified":"2013-04-28T13:23:43","modified_gmt":"2013-04-28T17:23:43","slug":"girls-with-swords-chapter-6-becoming-a-warrior-pgs-81-84","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2013\/04\/29\/girls-with-swords-chapter-6-becoming-a-warrior-pgs-81-84\/","title":{"rendered":"Girls With Swords: Chapter 6 \u2013 \u201cBecoming a Warrior\u201d (pgs 81-84)"},"content":{"rendered":"

CLICK HERE<\/a> FOR YOUR READING ASSIGNMENT THIS WEEK.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why don\u2019t we send our children into battle?\u00a0 Why are we so shocked and disturbed when we hear of countries that DO send their children into a war zone?\u00a0 I believe it is hard enough to send an adult off to do battle.\u00a0 \u00a0I cannot imagine looking my innocent, na\u00efve children in the face and sending them off to face a vicious enemy.\u00a0 I have a responsibility to train<\/span> my child, teach<\/span> them the things they need to be successful, develop<\/span> their knowledge until they are mature.\u00a0 God doesn\u2019t expect us to fight our battles untrained either.<\/p>\n

This week we move from just being a soldier in armor and carrying our swords to developing the heart of a WARRIOR<\/span>.\u00a0 Did you know there is a difference?\u00a0 I did some research on characteristics of a warrior<\/span> and found some words that made me think.\u00a0 What do you think of when you hear these words?<\/p>\n

Commitment\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Determination\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Willingness to Succeed<\/p>\n

Prepare bodily\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Prepare mentally \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ability to Adapt<\/p>\n

Will Power \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Driving Force from within\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Push limits beyond expectations<\/p>\n

These are not casual words.\u00a0 They are ACTION<\/span><\/strong> words.\u00a0 They are words with character and strength, experience and wisdom.\u00a0 Our children do not possess these characteristics yet.\u00a0 It takes experience<\/span> and the guidance<\/span> of a caring parent, teacher, or counselor to bring about this kind of maturity in a person.\u00a0 SO\u2026there\u2019s the word\u2026MATURITY<\/em>.\u00a0 To become a WARRIOR<\/span> we must develop maturity<\/em>.\u00a0 Not just in life experience, but in Spiritual Matters.\u00a0 We ARE Spiritual Warriors<\/span>.\u00a0 Some of us are on the front lines and some are still back at the tent waiting our turn.<\/p>\n

The Apostle Paul spoke to people in the new churches about becoming mature Christ followers.\u00a0 He used some pretty strong language as he taught them to \u201cgrow up.\u201d\u00a0 Check out Hebrews 13, Ephesians chapters 4 and 5, and Hebrews 6.\u00a0 This is the first part of Hebrews 6:<\/p>\n

\u201cSo let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don\u2019t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.\u00a0 You don\u2019t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.\u00a0 And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.\u201d<\/span><\/strong> (New Living Translation)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The basic teachings are very important.\u00a0 If a believer\u00a0doesn’t\u00a0get that right, it\u00a0doesn’t\u00a0matter how passionate she is about Jesus.\u00a0 Once a new believer understands the basic lessons, it is time to practice<\/span> what was learned and \u201cmove forward\u201d toward maturity.\u00a0 The first five chapters of our book Girls with Swords<\/i><\/b> is \u201cBasic Training\u201d for every good soldier.\u00a0 Now we will learn to develop the heart of a WARRIOR<\/span>.\u00a0 Lisa tells us, \u201cTh<\/strong>e warrior has a CHOICE.\u00a0 Honoring what is godly and noble is often the rite of passage when a soldier becomes a warrior<\/b>\u201d\u00a0 (page 82).<\/p>\n

In our reading, Lisa gives us words a WARRIOR<\/span> would understand:<\/p>\n

Strategy\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Intuition\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Vision<\/p>\n

Wisdom\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Patience \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Persistence<\/p>\n

Tenacity \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Unified Voice (Unity)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Concerned Effort<\/p>\n

Do any of these words pertain to you?\u00a0 Have you developed any of these traits of a Spiritual Warrior<\/span>?\u00a0 If you can honestly say \u201cNo,\u201d it\u2019s OK.\u00a0 You know where you need to start.\u00a0 If you recognize some of these character traits in yourself, that\u2019s Good; continue to work on the area you are lacking.\u00a0 The Scripture would not tell us to move on to maturity if it was not a possibility for our lives.\u00a0 God makes use of every attempt we make to move closer to Him.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lisa shares, \u201cYou should never doubt that what seems a small or insignificant decision or gesture now may very well open a passageway or even empower you in the future\u201d<\/strong> <\/em>(page 83).\u00a0 Has anyone ever told you what you actually GET to take to heaven with you, that you acquired while on earth?\u00a0 Some people live by the phrase, \u201cYou can\u2019t take it with you, so USE IT UP.\u201d\u00a0 I need to share with you that the only thing we carry to heaven acquired on earth is our CHARACTER<\/span>.\u00a0<\/strong> We will be known by our godly character in heaven.<\/b><\/p>\n

Yes, there will be spiritual babies crawling through the gates.\u00a0 Yes, there will be spiritual adolescents and, hopefully, some spiritual young adults.\u00a0 But I hope that each one of us will burst the gates of Heaven wide open like a WARRIOR<\/span> on a mission for God.\u00a0 We have a CHOICE to believe, a CHOICE to mature and a CHOICE to live in a way that brings Honor and Glory to God the Father.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s finish our time together with Jesus\u2019 best friend, John.\u00a0 In 1 John chapter 2<\/strong> we are encouraged to mature in our faith.\u00a0 The whole chapter is beneficial, but I want to leave you with this:<\/p>\n

\u201c24 So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. \u00a0If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. \u00a0\u00a025 And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.\u00a0 26 I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. 27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don\u2019t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true\u2014it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Living as Children of God<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

28 And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.\u00a0 29 Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God\u2019s children.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Our struggles on this earth are not with other people, social injustice, or anything we can see.\u00a0 Our struggle is Spiritual and must be fought with Spiritual Strength, Spiritual Might, by a Spiritual WARRIOR<\/span>.\u00a0 It\u2019s time to pick up your SWORDS, ladies, and get to training.\u00a0 Our future maturity and Spiritual Survival depends on it.<\/p>\n

Listen to \u201cGreater<\/em><\/strong>\u201d with me as we pray.<\/p>\n