Armed with Attitude

As I write today, I'm kind of piggy-backing on what was written by the other writers of Soul Kitchen this week.

I was reading 1 Chronicles 12 about the men listed "armed for battle who came to David at Hebron." vs 23

I was intrigued by how these warriors were described. The list included these descriptions:
carrying shield and spear
armed for battle
ready for battle
brave warriors
switched allegiance to David
called by name to come
understood the times and knew what Israel should do
experienced soldiers prepared for battle
undivided loyalty
armed with every type of weapon

What about us today, as those called by God for the praise of His glory? What is our battle? How are we to prepare for battle? We are well aware of the spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6. When I read 1 Chronicles 12, however, it made me think of Peter encouraging to "arm yourself also with the same attitude" as Christ.

1 Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

We are to arm ourselves with the attitude Christ had. Christ embraced suffering, entrusting Himself to God. Peter talks a lot about the suffering of believers in the chapters preceding these verses. We need to be aware of an important point here - especially considering our culture advocating entitlement and personal rights - suffering will come and we should not be surprised when we suffer and experience trials. We shouldn't be surprised in the least, actually.

Yet we are. So, when we are wronged, when we are hurt, when bad things happen, we're not prepared. And we react...in all kinds of ways.

That's where being armed with attitude comes in. Not attitude as the world promotes, because we know where that leads us... and it's not victory. It's not glory, and it certainly doesn't result in peace.

But being prepared -being armed - with the attitude that Christ suffered in His body and we will too, along with a deep knowing that we belong to a loving and merciful God... well, that will lead in a totally different direction. We will not live the rest of our earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. (vs 2)

It may look like what happened when Pilgrim's Heart was armed with this attitude. As she wrote in yesterday's blog, "I'm not saying I did not feel pain at times because this was a lifetime pattern for her, but, when I placed her in His hands and gave up the control I wanted, God gave me peace.

I continued to love my Mama through times of feeling unloved, unwanted, and uncared for. Had I taken to heart all of the cruel things she said to me and walked out of her life, she would not be in the kingdom today. God gave me the power and love to keep going back."

Thank you Pilgrim's Heart for that beautiful example of entrusting yourself to God in the midst of continual suffering. How thrilling that through your love and sharing your heart with her, your mom was eventually able to receive God's love too.

Sisters,
In the battle... prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:13