Last weekend was Memorial Day. The time we
consider those who have fought for our freedom and died doing so. In many ceremonies
of remembrance, you might have heard the word, “Valor”.
A few years ago I ran across a recruiting ad for one of the armed forces
and they used the word valor. It was an
intriguing term so I wrote it down in the hopes that one-day God would show me
the meaning.
The full definition
of valor: Strength of mind and spirit that enables a person to encounter
danger with firmness, bravery and courage.
The
majority of us won’t be on physical battlefields where valor is often needed
but we fight a spiritual battle everyday where valor is important. Does God
even ask us to act with valor? He sure
does….
“Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of darkness, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him.” Chronicles 32:7
Whether
we are praying daily, specifically interceding for others or just going about
our business we are in a battle zone of Satan’s making. This world is his right
now and he is serious about the fight. It doesn’t matter if you want to
participate or not, just being a believer means you’re a target. And he is not
a fair fighter. He will try every trick to shake you from your faith. You need
a certain firmness that only God’s weapons can provide. Let’s break down the
definition of valor and see how God equips us for battle.
Strength
of Mind
Our minds are corrupt with myths, bombardment of
advertisements, politics and opinions from others, and the business of
life. God wants us to have the Mind of
Christ. Christ set his mind on the things the Father was doing while he
navigated through his world. He learned a trade, went to school, bathed, ate,
slept, made friends, took trips, and went to church. But in everything He
paused to look and listen for what the Father was directing Him to say and do.
Since
we are in a battle we can consider how the military works their chain of
command as an inspiration. Soldiers in the field rely on commanders to guide
them. Commanders see the whole field and
can direct each troop for maximum effectiveness against the enemy.
“Let every soul be subject unto
the higher powers.
For there is no power but of
God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”
Romans 13:1
Also,
with the military in mind, we can put on our uniform provided for protection as
well as the fight. Satan’s favorite place to try and undermine you is in your
mind. This is where faith begins with hope and ends with fear. Thankfully, God
provides a helmet that when worn properly and daily, eliminates the power of
fear. It’s salvation. As a believer you are sealed with Christ. Victory has already been bought for you. Yep, that is the truth. To fight the lies Satan will throw around to
get you questioning your faith, God gives us His word. It’s a powerful sword
that Satan cannot ever beat.
"And take the helmet of
salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit, which
is the word of God:"
Ephesians 6:17
Strength
of Spirit
Our spirits
are corrupt with emotions, past memories, and our upbringing. With this deficit how could we possibly meet
and beat the evil supernatural power of Satan and his demons? Especially daily…
how wearisome. Thankfully, we don’t have to.
Yep, we don’t have to do the work at all. We need to rely on God’s power
working in us to do the work. He has won the victory and is the all-powerful
one. As believers, His Holy Spirit is
alive within us. We can set aside our emotions, memories, and any false
teachings that may have entered our belief system and allow Him to take
control. When in battle, the chosen Jewish tribes, as noted in the Old
Testament often faced enemies that overwhelmed them in the thought of going to
war. In Zechariah 4:6 they were reminded to trust in God’s power:
“Then he
answered and spoke to me saying, this is the word of the LORD unto the head of
the tribe, ‘Iit is not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD’.”
In Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (6:12)
he reminds us that we do not fight a physical battle, but one in the high
places.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Enables a Person
So if it’s the mind
of Christ and the Holy Spirit that is at work, are we even needed? Well, yes.
God in all His wisdom has chosen us to be His ambassadors to the world. The truth is, He wants us
involved. He needs us to do our part in
helping save other of his children from the enemy. He has won the ultimate
victory over death, so now it’s time to rescue as many of our comrades as we
can. But living on this earth in today’s
world means we also have to work, eat, pay bills, and relate to others. We can
be responsible in our everyday lives and we can be kind to others. Living to
please others, endlessly indulging in fleeting pleasures and worrying about
money – that takes up precious time and resources God wants to use for better
purposes.
If
we are so corrupted, what happens if we make a mistake or a bad decision? As you might imagine, God’s got us covered. As
Paul tells us in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his
purpose.”
To
Encounter Danger
This
was Jesus speaking… Not encouraging to know that The Way, The Truth and The
Life, promises we will have trouble. If you’re like me, you try to avoid
trouble and drama. But, I guess it’s unavoidable so don’t stress when it
happens. We can take comfort in knowing
that Jesus has already won the victory.
We just have to do our part and play it out.
We talk
a lot about fear being the belief of a lie from the enemy but I don’t want you
to think you aren’t allowed to feel fear. It’s an important part of our
development as humans to know when danger is present. Feeling fear is ok, it’s
an identifier. Succumbing to fear and
letting it drive your decisions is where Satan wins his twisted game. With this
he has convinced you to give up. Valor calls on us to be brave and have courage
in the face of fear. “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the
assessment that something else is more important than fear.” ― Franklin D.
Roosevelt.
“For I am the Lord your God who
takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.”
and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.”
Isaiah 41:10-13
On the
recruiting website for Airforce and The Marines you will find these
descriptions below. As you read their core values consider how you can make
these attributes part of your spiritual life.
Joining
the Air Force
is a life-changing decision and opportunity. Airmen fulfill important roles in
service to our country, enjoy a close-knit community and embrace a global
lifestyle. It’s a journey that’s full of growth and opportunity. Take time to
learn about all aspects of Air Force life, make the right preparations, and
discover how joining can be a good fit for your future.
Semper Fidelis - Latin for "always
faithful," is more than the Marine Corps Motto. Becoming a Marine
is becoming the always faithful - true to the mission, to the Marines by your
side, to the Corps, to your country. Always Faithful. Always a Marine.
When
joining the armed forces, you enter a period of beginning the transformation
into a soldier. As a believer, we too are transformed as we join the Faith. Look at the two descriptions of transformation
below and think about the comparisons and current condition of your own
transformation.
Transformation – Defined by the
Marines
Obstacles once considered insurmountable are now passable. The
determination to prevail now overpowers the desire to quit. As you begin to
change, you will not lose your soul - you will discover it. Your identity will
not be erased; it will be sharpened. You will live by the Core Values—honor,
courage and commitment.
Transformation – Defined by The Bible
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand
firm. Let nothing move you.
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the
Lord,
because you know that your labor in the Lord is not
in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:58(NIV)
Lord,
I long to be of good courage. I trust your command and invite you to work in
and through me as you strengthen my heart. I put my hope in you and I know I
will find my faith built up with every encounter and victory over the enemy. I ask you to protect my mind. I give your Holy Spirit control in my life. I
welcome the plan of transformation you have for me. Forgive me for believing
the lies of fear and myths. Your truth is my salvation and my shield. Remind me
to recognize those who have gone before me and I will look for Valor to reign
in my life as you work all things for good.
(based
on Psalm 31:24 and other verses in this study)
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