Theresa Rowe will share her journey on Purposeful Pathway Radio on February 20th at 1:00 p.m. EST. Theresa is a faith-based wellness coach, author, motivational speaker and radio guest on 90.3 Bridge FM in Columbus, Indiana and 1490 WOMI each Friday morning. She is also a writer for Christian Military Wives Magazine, Wives in Bloom and Fit Christian Magazine. Visit her at www.shapedbyfaith.com, facebook, twitter account @TheresaLRowe or contact theresa@shapedbyfaith.com. Enjoy her guest blog post about being victorious warriors in Christ Jesus.

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Victorious Warriors

Before chocolate bunnies, Easter egg hunts and multi-colored jelly beans, in finely manicured baskets, Jesus Christ fought the ultimate battle, which in turn offers us victory over death. His victory does not deter Satan and his attempts to pick us off one by one. For this reason, we must be prepared and claim our status as victorious warriors for the Lord. There is one particular exercise which personifies this attitude; the warrior exercise. This exercise increases the heart rate and challenges every muscle in the body while empowering the spirit. This exercise is challenging and in order to do it correctly, without injury, you must maintain proper alignment, stay focused and believe. Regular attendees use one heavy weight but someone new can still participate by modifying the exercise with a light weight. Everyone in the class can experience the Romans 8:37 verse which states “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

When I look out into the packed room and see women of all ages and levels of fitness preparing to pick up their heavy weights, I sense I am leading an army for Christ. Humbly, but with righteous respect, I announce that God has placed them in this boot camp to help them reach new levels of strength, both physically and spiritually. I believe that God is raising an army of believers willing to step out in faith and do His will on earth. This army is willing to pray whenever or where ever needed, lay hands on the sick and faithfully expecting the unexpected to happen. These women will break free from the bondage the enemy has enslaved them with and then they will lead others out of captivity.

I announce to my platoon that we are victorious warriors for Jesus Christ and we must join together on the battle field to overcome the daily darts being thrown our way. I remind them that they have been trained to recognize the enemies’ strategy of keeping them from knowing all they can be in Christ. Finally, I command them to take up the sword of the spirit, the heavy weight, and the Word of God, and be ready to fight. When the attack of the enemy comes (and it will come), we are to use the Word as our weapon. Jesus our great General has shown us how to war in spirit and in truth.

After forty days of fasting in the wilderness, Satan tried to catch Jesus in a weak moment by offering to turn stone to bread. Jesus spoke directly to him and said, “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took Him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the son of God”, he said, “Throw yourself down.” For it is written: “He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All of this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” Then the devil left Him, and the angels came and attended Him.

When we wield the Word, like Jesus did, Satan has no control over us. When we swing the sword of the spirit, the heavy weight, we carve up complacency and cut the bindings of Satan. When we march onto the battle field knowing Jesus’ blood has already made us victorious, we acquire the power and authority necessary to ward off the enemy. When we pray and stick to the Word of God in battle, and not our personal opinions, we are victorious. Knowing and hearing this on the battle field really gets my blood pumping for the next warrior exercise!

Ephesians 6:14-17 describes the fashion fit for battle. “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God.”

I command the warriors to take their positions and stand firm as they engage their core with the belt of truth around their waist. Where there is truth, nothing can be hidden, so we examine ourselves to make sure there is nothing hidden in secret to be used against us. We know secret sins are Satan’s fertile breeding ground and with this knowledge, we must confess our sins and remove any opportunity for mistakes on the battle field. We each take the sword of the spirit, our heavy weight, in our left hand and lower ourselves down in the squat position. With force and a heavy inhale we swing our weight back as far as the arm will allow us to maintain our position. Ready for battle we stand up, exhale forcefully, and swing the sword forward. Strong and steady I now command them to let go of the sword, (weight), and launch it in front of them. Being quickened in our spirit we grab the sword of the spirit with our right hand and lower ourselves back down into a squat while continuing this warring in the spirit for two minutes.

Too soon the hour of training is over and we must each go our separate ways. But we leave empowered, as victorious warriors, armed with the sword of the spirit and the Word of God.