Rejoicing In The Word For Ladies – The Fight of Faith (November 2025)

Do you remember singing “I’m in the Lord’s Army” as a child in Sunday school class? The Bible is filled with illustrations to help us understand the Christian life and walk. For example, I like to think about the blessed man in Psalm 1 and the metaphor of a green tree with its roots sunk deep in the riverbank. There is instruction to “grow in grace” in 2 Pet. 3:18 that invites meaningful comparison to abiding in the true Vine and bearing much fruit. I can also appreciate descriptions of the Christian life as a journey with mountaintops, valleys, and sometimes deserts. However, I’m a little less excited about the thought of the Christian life as a battle and my calling to be a “good soldier” in the fight.

Oh, it was fun to march in place and salute when I was five years old in Sunday School! But I don’t really want conflict in my grown-up life. If I’m in the Lord’s army, then I am responsible to fight sin, fight weakness, fight the devil, fight for truth, and plenty more. It is at times like this that I am inspired by the great warrior king, the songwriter poet, the man after God’s own heart. David was in training to be a good soldier from his youth. For one thing, he had seven older brothers! Haha! We know he faced a lion and a bear alone in the wilderness. Of course, his most famous battle was his contest against the giant Goliath. But I think David would tell us that he fought an even harder battle against self, and that he suffered tremendous loss after his failure with Bathsheba. Contrary to his own desires, and despite his misguided attempts to avoid necessary disagreement, he also fought battles within his own family, ultimately losing his son, Absalom. David fought for truth and justice across the kingdom all the days of his life. He had to continually drive back the enemy and war to keep the ground that had been won.

1 Sam. 17:45-47 reveals David’s warrior spirit and holy purpose! “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.”

Five Reminders for the Soldier:

1. A good soldier can recognize the enemy. This is no hypothetical, ethereal force, nor some mystical battle. Very often, my fight is with me- my thoughts, my selfishness, my inclination to sin. Sometimes, the battle is without. There are so many temptations and evil influences all around in this world. Other times, my enemy is the one who has waged war on mankind since the Garden of Eden. (2 Cor. 2:11)
2. A good soldier will train for battle. I should be equipped for the fight. Our tools and weapons for spiritual battle are numerous. Some of the most common and effective means are: prayer, truth and doctrine, Scripture, fasting, obedient faith, church, preaching, and the assembly of saints. (2 Cor. 10:4)
3. A good soldier will dress for battle. He is never caught without his armor. Our protection is outlined in Ephesians 6:10-18.
4. A good soldier will follow the leader. And others that are following the leader. (Heb. 13:7, Phil. 3:17)
5. A good soldier will endure. This is one of the uncomfortable parts of our assignment in the battle – enduring. (2 Tim. 4:5, 2:3)

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” (1 Tim. 6:12)

Praise the Lord! (V.K.S.)