A war is a collection of several battles. What is the end of it for you?
Before engaging, one must sit down to count the cost.
Not every battle is worth fighting. There are times you quietly walk away.
There is nothing wrong with craving to be treated with dignity and respect. Every human is entitled to respect and the right to fair hearing. Nevertheless...
Ignore the itch to defend yourself or tell your side of the story. Ignore the lies and false branding tainting your name. True wisdom is viewing all perspectives before casting judgment.
If anyone loves you, they would know you—what you are capable of and what you are not. Anyone easily swayed by tongues never had your best interest at heart.
The Lord Jesus willingly walked into the trap His beloved disciple had set for Him, and He sat down to eat His last meal with a traitor.
He decided to be overwhelmed by the battles He chose. This willful surrender enabled Him to test the love of each disciple. The crowds that followed Him stood from afar and scorned Him on the cross. All His disciples dispersed; some denied Him, others hid far away.
Even the Lord forsook Him at some point, and He beckoned, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”
But love is so powerful that the Holy Spirit, who once turned His face away from the sins of the whole world, moved to rescue the Lord Jesus when all the demons pounced on Him. He rescued the Lord Jesus because He was the reason the Lord Jesus was sentenced to death.
His love stood the test of time. He rescued Him and set Him in a place far above principalities and powers. Hence, the surrender of the Lord Jesus became His greatest triumph.
You choose the battles to fight and the ones to avoid. You choose the battles you have control over. Just when all of hell was rejoicing that the King of Glory was crucified and in hell—when all the demons He cast out ran to mock him and have their pound of flesh—just when they thought the battle was over, that they had framed Him, finally gotten Him, accused Him before the Holy God, and separated Him from the Holy Spirit—the Holy Spirit showed up.
He gave the Lord Jesus power to subdue His enemies, and He paraded them. What an irony.
The Lord Jesus surrendered willingly and rose again because He knew nothing could separate Him from the love of the Father. He believed in His Father's love—that his Father is mighty to save and mighty to protect. He let them win the battles, but he won the war.
The Lord encourages us to be as wise as serpents and gentle as doves.
The love of Jesus Christ was put to the test by the devil. His love was tested, tried, and proven. It was now time for the love the Father has for the Son to be tested—and His love did not fail either. Hence, the Son was finally reconciled with the Father, the barriers were lifted, and He ascended to be united with the Father forever and ever. Amen.
'Can your wings withstand the aerial pressure?'
It’s not about how much, but how long.
When runners start off in a marathon, the wise ones maintain a steady pace and intensify in the last mile. Others start out at full speed, wondering why the rest are not matching their pace. They run ahead, past moving things and other athletes. Eventually, they burn out or even collapse. They withdraw too quickly as their motivation takes a downward turn.
As for the runners who seemed slow, they remain steady and grounded. At the last minute, they intensify and cross the finish line.
In chasing our goals, the same approach should be applied. Throwing all your spears at one giant would leave you without weaponry at the emergence of his kinsmen. Haste devoid of premeditation leaves one discouraged and produces abject failure.
If you must intensify, make sure your endurance can sustain your intensity in every task.
Mercy is for the ignorant.
It is offered when the offended had a hand in what triggered the offender; but willful acts should never be pardoned. They are premeditated attacks that did not hit home; if they did, you would have no capacity to hold the bowl of mercy.
This is why the fallen angels never found mercy.
It wasn't an accident, it wasn't a mistake; it was a failed attempt. Your mercy only buys them time to strategize, study your methods through the access you grant, and give you a fatal blow that'd leave everlasting scars on your soul and affairs.
If you want to test the loyalty of a friend, provoke him and watch how quickly he strikes back.
If he's shocked, bewildered, hurt, yet stands down, he's loyal. He's hurt, yet he guards the bond.
But if he immediately sprawls at you, there's hidden resentment.
Beware of friends who join others to laugh at you in humiliating situations, or jokingly take sides with your foes.
People tend to say a lot when they are upset. Provoking your friends is a necessary evil. The light would shine on their true intent. And you just suck on that straw, while you watch how far they go.
The End.
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