Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The Author and Perfecter of my Faith was already speaking to my Heart long before my feet hit the ground this morning and my Time with Him felt more like a Warrior Preparing for battle than Humble Servant looking for Truth. I’m a Perpetual student of the Word of God and I thank Him daily for a sound mind to learn more, a strong and healthy body to Serve bigger, and an Assignment fit for the King. It’s not enough for me to just “have Faith” because we’re instructed to “add to” our Faith… and that’s where the Sacrifice and Commitment part comes in. Anybody can sit on the sidelines…churches are filled with spectators unwilling to do what it takes to please Him. I know that I’m not called to be a martyr…I’m called to be a Warrior, and a Good Warrior needs Strength to endure the Journey. So, most of the “work” I put into living out a Life for Jesus Christ comes down to me. After all, it takes a Warrior to be willing to “add to” daily, to go to the Front lines, and to walk the Journey of Faith in a world filled with sorrows. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey too?

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard “You’re a Christian, you’re supposed to…” I would have retired long ago. It’s never a good idea to critique a Warrior with notions of what YOU think a Christian should or shouldn’t be doing because a Warrior takes Direction from God. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that I’m at the beck and call of everyone who needs help, and it doesn’t mean I’m supposed to attempt to fix circumstances that only God can fix. It doesn’t mean if I don’t take action to remedy their circumstances the way they believe I should that I’m any “less” Christian at all…in fact, it’s a really Good indicator that I take my Lead from the One I Serve instead of being guilted into trying to twist His Will to fit their lives. Nevertheless, some people judge people of Faith based on what they DO and who they help as if Christians are responsible for fixing all the problems they encounter…but that’s not what it looks like for a Warrior at all. Warriors understand the Battle and they don’t lose sight of Who they Represent or what’s Expected of them. Warriors know that the Role of a Christian is pretty simple…we’re supposed to strive to be a Reflection of Jesus Christ in all that we do, and we’re told to share the Good News with as many people as we can…AND we’re expected to “add to” our Faith for the rest of our lives. When you look at it that way, it only makes sense that the Hard Work always comes down to a Heart that is Readied for the Journey, so a Good Warrior puts more time into being readied than they do trying to “fix” a broken world.

In 2 Peter we read, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The last thing I would ever want to become is “ineffective and unproductive” in my Journey of Faith…so this Warrior makes “adding to a Priority” every day. It’s a BIG list BUT I’m a committed Warrior. It’s a BIG list BUT I serve a BIG God. It’s a BIG list BUT if I strive to “add to” I’ll be a better Servant to the One Who died for me and prayerfully I’ll hear “well done” One Day. When you look at it that way, how could I NOT strive to do whatever it takes to “add to” for Him? I’m a readied Warrior for the Living God!

How about you?