Ending well: Small Tasks versus Big Battles


USS Lexington - Corpus Christi, Texas
December 21, 2014 would have been my father’s 77th birthday. Death was his final battle and it ended in victory. “Death is swallowed up in victory…but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus the Christ.  I Corinthians 15:54-56.

He worked many tasks on a ship similar to the one above to provide for his wife and nine children. The tasks were often tough on his body, but he knew that not being able to provide for us would have been a battle so he did the tasks required to do his job for over 45 years.

This reminds me of the differences between tasks and battles. I have seen days filled with big battles and small tasks.  There were battles this year that were clearly not tasks. In the real battles I had no strength or power to defeat the Adversary Satan on my own. I could only pray, fast, remember the Word, and wait until the LORD won the battle for me.  I also got a chance to see a few of my friends win real battles that they had been fighting for years through prayer, and those were sweet victories. Seeing the LORD fighting and winning the battle for my friends and me no greater joy than that!

Since, I now can recognize battles from tasks, I know when to ask the LORD to handle a situation versus when I can do something for myself by following his commandments.
The following are examples of seven tasks/commandments for me in 2014 continuing in 2015:
1)    Trust God at all times, even when the tasks becomes difficult
2)    Do not be fearful of what could happen, only God knows what will happen.
3)    Obey without compromise
4)    Slow to speak, quick to listen, and quickly repent when wrong
5)    Live a quiet life and labor in love
6)    Remember love is a word proven by what I do, not by what I say
7)    Act justly, give grace, and walk in purity with my God

There are real battles that we are not able to fight without the help of the LORD, our God, and there are small tasks as above that we can handle on our own, because He has already taught us through His Words on what to do.

Following His instructions positions us to be in a perfect place to know that the Battle is the Lord’s.  And the Battle cry begins with the high praises of God in our mouth and a two-edged sword (the Word of God) in our hand.

Next time you are going through something ask yourself, “Is this a battle or a task for me to do?"

Ask God to help you to see the difference between the two in 2015.  Ask Him to help you see clearly if it is a battle that Satan has initiated and you need Him to fight it for you. 

When we let God fight the battle we will win and it will be over. When you recognized the task is something for you to do you can rest and save the battles for Him. 

Not sure how you will end 2014, but if the LORD says so let’s begin 2015 understanding our tasks, our battles and our victories!

With Love, Mercy and Grace;
Patricia McNair
NOBLE LIGHT MINISTRIES

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