fight | Thoughts About God

If Hockey Banned Fighting

Devotionals — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 08:02:01 +0000

“If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.” Luke 6:29

It’s the playoffs, and during them hockey players hold to the unspoken rule that giving hard hits is fine, but one ought to avoid outright fights. This agreement makes for fast-skating, hard-hitting hockey without the tough-man antics of dropping the gloves for a mid-ice brawl. Most would say it makes better hockey.

I know it might be a stretch, but what if we banned fighting in hockey during the regular season? Would we get better hockey? Probably so. Or what if we dropped fighting from politics and international relations and neighborhood issues. Or bring it closer to home. What if we quit fighting at our workplace and home space, in our relating to colleagues, friends, and family?

Jesus said as much. In Luke he says if someone picks a fight with us, we shouldn’t retaliate. “Turn the other cheek” the saying goes, and even more. “If he takes your coat, give him your shirt too.”

In The Upside Down Kingdom, Donald Kraybill writes, ”A blow on the right cheek had special significance in Jewish culture. It symbolized ultimate contempt. Its punishment was a fine equivalent to a year’s wages. In other words, Jesus forbids his disciples to retaliate even in the face of the most abusive insult.” (p. 196)

I am all for “fighting the good fight” if it means living the faith to the fullest, but I am not going to take that phrase literally. By turning the other cheek I hope to squelch violence and help the offender realize their wrong.

God, it’s so easy to fight back in conflict situations. Help me see that you called us to love everyone, even our enemies. May I seek peaceful ways to reconcile differences, and in doing so fight faithfully for what is right and good. Amen.

Take Action: The next time you are in a conflict situation, look for ways to defuse the situation through apology, listening, or walking away

By Bill Strom
used be permission

FURTHER READING

Responding to Accusations
Leading in a Storm
Stronghold of the Godly; Humility – by Francis Frangipane

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Fight Back

Devotionals — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 09:01:17 +0000

“Praise the LORD, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle.” Psalm 144:1 (NLT)

Every day you will face challenges that try to move you away from God’s plan and purpose for your lives. You will be tempted to act out of character. You will be tempted to give in to the pride of your own hearts; relying on yourselves rather than fully relying on God. Unfortunately, all of these decisions will put you in a position to lose the battle.

If you are to see victory over the obstacles you are currently facing, it will take you learning the battle strategy from the one who knows best. God has strategic weapons to dismantle every attack of the enemy. We find this true throughout the Old Testament readings.

Joshua won the battle of Jericho by marching around the city 7 times, then releasing a loud shout. Gideon was told he had too many men for the battle. He was then instructed to take 300 men with him. As they went blowing their trumpets, the Lord confused the opposing army and they began to fight themselves. Jehoshaphat was told by the Prophet of the Lord, you will not have to fight in this battle, the Lord will fight for you. They proceeded to battle worshipping their God and the other army began to destroy themselves.

As you can see from these accounts, God does not fight like we fight. His weapons are much greater than ours. They are weapons of mass destruction; tearing down every stronghold, piercing between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Today, instead of cowering down to the enemy of doubt, fear and insecurity. Instead of giving into the temptation to quit. Instead of allowing the whispers of the naysayers stop you in your tracks, I encourage you to fight back! You must stand and gird yourself with the full armour of God. Endure hardness as a good soldier and see those very obstacles demolished in your path.

When you allow God to be your defense, your strong tower, He can perfect all things that concern you. After all, He has already equipped you with the weapons that work; prayer, worship, and the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God.

Do your battle on your knees today. Do your battle in worship. God will fight for you.

Father, thank You for teaching our hands to war. Too often, we fight from a place of our own strength not fully relying on, leaning into, and trusting You. As we begin to change course, thank You for Your patience with us. Thank You for your power being made perfect in our times of weaknesses. May we look to You when we are weak to help us win the victory in every area of our lives. In Jesus name Amen.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

Fight Like Jesus Fights

Thoughts_About_God — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 09:01:10 +0000

“Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.” Jeremiah 10:5 (NIV)

Say this as a Prayer –

In faith, I know this to be true:

By God’s grace, I am able take control of my thoughts, weeding out the ones that don’t belong—those that might lead me away from God (2 Corinthians 10:5).

This is a choice I make; I am not helpless in controlling my mind. God has given me the mind of Christ to teach me how to think like Jesus thinks.

God has already given me powerful tools “for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 MSG).

These God-tools are ready for me to use and they clear the ground for my growth toward maturity (2 Corinthians 10:6 MSG).

It is true that I am more than a conqueror through God, who loves me (Romans 8:37).

I know that my fight is not against flesh and blood; it is not against my brothers and sisters. They may be used by the rulers, authorities, and dark powers of this world, but people of flesh, blood, and bone are not the ones who fight against me (Ephesians 6:12).

Because this is true, God tells me to use his weapons, such as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23 NIV).

God renews my spirit and calls me to a single-minded purpose, aligned with his heart and mind (Psalm 51:10; James 1:5–8; James 4:8).

Lord, I hold all this to be true, and my objective is to rely on your divine power to demolish any strongholds.

by Jon Walker
Used by Permission