Vital signs- Monday, May 22nd, 2023

I’ve got news for you: you’re in a fight. Right now. We all are.

Have you ever noticed how hard it is sometimes just to follow God? Why isn’t marriage effortless? Why is raising a family so…complicated? Shouldn’t those things just come naturally? Shouldn’t they be easy? But they’re not.

Let’s say we’re standing on an empty football field, just you and me. We’re on the 20-yard line. I throw you the ball and say, “Run this into the end zone.” In no time at all, you’re spiking the ball and doing the Heisman. Easy, right?

We were just a couple of guys horsing around, but now let’s mix it up a little. Let’s add 60,000 screaming fans and nine more guys (maybe some friends from your work). And let’s say we’re facing…a defensive lineup of NFL All-Stars. The game’s changed, hasn’t it? This time, if I can even get the ball to you at the 20-yard line, you’ll be lucky to make it through this without any broken bones—let alone actually reaching the end zone! There’s opposition. There’s someone trying to stop you. A bunch of huge someones.

Make no mistake: You are in a fight. Every day, you’re getting stared down by your enemy. And his mission statement, his entire life’s purpose, can be summed up in three words: Steal. Kill. DESTROY. (John 10:10)

1 Peter 5:8 warns you: “Watch your back, man! You’ve got a vicious enemy: the devil. Don’t underestimate this guy. He’s like a lion, out stalking you. He wants to tear your flesh, to devour you whole.”

Get that in your head: A rabid lion is hunting you. To eat you! Oh, you’re in a fight, all right.

It’s fourth down. We’re on the 20. And on this next snap, the ball is coming to you. What are you going to do? Are you ready for this fight?

The greatest position of power we can have is on our knees with our hands raised!

Team Wade loves you and is praying for you!❤️👊