Of Energy and Battles

Having my self-proclaimed vacation because of a birthday surprise I received from my body, I've been left in our room to isolate myself and save the entire humanity from the wrath of the socially unacceptable and jejemon-like bulutong tubig... or in high class terms - Chicken Pox. Being in solitude, doing mundane things everyday made me lose my energy. Aside from the on-and-off fever and sore throat I'm having because of my uninvited guest, I believe after a few days I'm now able to function better than when my sickness started, but nonetheless I slept and lay on the bed feeling drained.

No quiet times with the Lord, just short, occasional prayers.

~O~

The Apostle Paul is someone I greatly admire. And unlike any fictitious superhero we idolize nowadays, Paul was real and as human as you and I. Recalling how he did his missionary journeys - enduring not only the hardships of the travel but more importantly the persecutions in each destination he had, the many near-death experiences he encountered, makes me think what kind of man was he?

Was he really that strong? Exercised well? Went to gym often? Trained well to gain such strength and endurance?

I think it's something else. For Paul, himself, said:

"To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me."

Colossians 1:29 (NIV)

~O~

Reading what Paul had mentioned made me stop and think... Am I like Paul? Have I strenuously contended with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me? Do I contend or do I merely drop down and surrender? 

Or do I even claim the power that God gives as I ask?

Have you ever asked yourself these questions? Many a times I'm sure that like me you have found yourself drained and lost and powerless against sufferings, temptations and persecutions. We feel like we have nothing more to lose so we give up, we feel like nothing's worth fighting for, we feel like it's a losing battle, or worse - we just know we're incapable... and so we stop there. 

But God always reminds us that He is the God of the impossible... where we stand incapable there he rescues us, lifts us up and carries us; just like how he carried our sins on his cross. We just have to believe and have faith and not be moved. We have to know that he CAN and he WILL therefore we, too, CAN and WILL because of HIM. Who then shall be drained, or tired, or weary again? :)

This is how we contend - we fight knowing behind us is the Almighty God therefore we shall never fail and that if we do, He will come to aid. This is how we contend - amidst the temptations we know that He does not give us any temptation beyond what we can bear. This is how we contend - even beyond understanding we TRUST in His WILL because we know He loves us no matter what... and that is the greatest love of all.

This is how we contend, knowing that everyday is a battle, and a battle where we NEVER fight alone. A battle already won, we just have to claim it. Jesus already conquered and death, and conquered it for us. So what's left to doubt? What's left to question? What's not to contend for?

~O~

So now, I challenge you, as I have challenged myself...

Let's pick up our crosses, follow Jesus and contend for the faith that we have :)

~O~

Finally, not an occasional prayer and not "no quiet times" any more.  :">