American Warrior Association

Do you remember why you joined the military, or chose to serve as a first responder? Many people join because it provides a sense of belonging and acceptance. The oaths sworn assures that we belong to something bigger than ourselves. A tradition that is accomplishing something good in the world. The sacrifices made as a team provide a sense of camaraderie (acceptance) that lead to a stronger bond then even some marriages experience. But what happens when you take the uniform off? Who are you apart from your uniform?

I was spending time with one of my good friends the other day, a combat vet who served in the 82nd Airborne Division, and he mentioned how “Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank” was one of their strategic outposts in Afghanistan. It provided security and defense against Taliban fighters whose reign of terror came to an end, because the warriors there were willing to “stand in the gap.”

“I will be with you and I will protect you.” From our fall in the Garden of Eden, excuses have been tossed around like footballs on Sunday. In that very first sin, Adam blamed Eve, who blamed the Slithering One. From that time on excuses have been a part of our flawed DNA.

The Christmas season is supposed to be a wonderful time for families and friends to gather, reconnect, and celebrate. BUT is it really the most wonderful time of the year?

In the military, 24-hour time is used for 2 reasons. First: Military operations are around-the-clock 24hrs a day / 365 days a year and military operations are global in nature. There's really no “quittin' time!” Second: AM and PM often get mixed up so this really reduces the amount of confusion. There's no time for mistakes. It's important that every minute is used efficiently. If you want to make an impact with your life, you've got to do one thing: Get control of your time. Your time is your life. If you don't learn to manage your time, you'll limit the legacy of your life.

“For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything he does.” - Psalm 33:4 (NLT) Let's be honest. We live in an extremely dishonest generation. Politicians, Hollywood, celebrities, social media… It's hard to know what the truth is when all we hear encounter is dishonesty. In a time when so much of the world seems false, one of the great questions to ask is: “Who are you going to trust?” The way you answer this question will determine whether your life will be filled with Peace or uncertainty.

On the battlefield, commanders employ many intelligence-gathering systems to gain “ground truth.” We need this accurate information in order to make sound tactical decisions. Good decisions save lives. Spiritually speaking, knowing the Truth is even more crucial. Why? The only part of life that crosses the threshold between this world and the next is the human soul. Eternity is a long time. Where you spend it all depends on really knowing the Truth.

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.' – Matthew 25:21 After two decades of lagging development in military aircraft following WWI, the threat of war in Europe created a sense of urgency among military leaders to catch up with the Axis powers...

“I am not really alone, because the Father is with me.” - John 16:32 (GNT) Isolation is a real issue within our warrior class. Isolation leads to loneliness, which leads to depression… and it becomes this brutal cycle that one can easily get stuck in. Although, it's not always easy, it's extremely important to remember that you are never alone. Having the mind of Christ means always being aware that God is with you.

You can't heal the most painful, costly wounds in your life by focusing on your past. To defeat those giants, you need to look ahead. Stop looking in your rearview mirror to find healing? When you do this, you're more likely to crash than heal. Focusing on whatever happened in your past that's making you seek healing won't lead you in the right direction.

“If by continuing to live I can do more worthwhile work, then I am not sure which I should choose. I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing; but for your sake it is much more important that I remain alive. I am sure of this, and so I know that I will stay. I will stay on with you all, to add to your progress and your joy in the faith” (Philippians 1:22-25 GNT). When you stay focused on your purpose instead of your problem, you can find joy even when life seems to be falling apart.

“God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13 NLT). No matter what you're going to face this next week, you won't face it alone. God is with you, he is in you, and he is for you.

Faith means stepping out into the unknown when you don't know what's even in the unknown. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “We walk by faith, not by sight” (ESV). That means we walk while looking with spiritual eyes, not physical eyes. We look from God's point of view, not from a human point of view.

“I trust in you, LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.' My times are in your hands” (Psalm 31:14-15 NIV). The opposite of fear is faith. When you fill your life with faith, fear goes out the back door. When things don't happen on your timetable, the more you trust God, the less afraid you will be.

“It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king's anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27 NLT). Your identity determines your destiny. That's a pretty big statement. But in the life of Moses, we see that it's true. Once Moses realized who he was, his life took a whole new direction.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV) Everyone who is alive will be hurt, many times over. Sometimes you will be hurt intentionally. Other times someone will accidentally hurt you. The way you respond to hurt will determine how it affects you.

“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.” - 2 Chronicles 20:15 (NIV) Any lifeguard will tell you: You can't save anyone as long as they're trying to save themselves. If you try, that person will just pull you down, too. So you have to tread water until they finally give up, and then it's easy. You just put a hand over their shoulder, and you swim back to shore.

The Bible tells the story of Job, a man who loved and served God. But he lost almost everything—his wealth, health, and children—in the span of one day. Job's story shows us how to worship even when we're wounded. Even in the worst times, we can worship God by invoking his wisdom and strength.

God's not playing games with you. He wants you to understand his will, purpose, and plan for your life. You may say, “I want God to guide me, but I still get confused. I don't know what to do.” Often the problem is we're looking for the wrong thing. You need to know what you're looking for before you can find it. So, what is God's will?

Have you ever wondered why you do what you don't want to do? Ever wondered why it's so hard to do the things that you know are the right things to do? Our sinful nature causes us to often make the wrong choice. You can probably relate to the apostle Paul when he says, “I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate . . . So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't” (Romans 7:15, 17-18 NLT).

Imagine that you're driving up a mountain. The road is twisting and turning, and you're stuck behind an incredibly slow car. You think, “If I could just see around the corner, I could pass this car.” Then a helicopter flies by and the pilot radios down, “I can see two miles ahead. It's okay for you to pass.” What's the difference between you in the car and the pilot in the helicopter? Perspective.

There's no doubt about it. Today we're faced with more decisions than ever before. We live in a multiple-choice culture. And decisions are significant. Sometimes even little decisions are like the hinges that let a giant door swing—they seem so small but can completely change the direction of your life.

God wants you to obey him. That's a pretty basic truth that you probably wouldn't disagree with. But did you know that God has specific ways he wants you to obey him? One of those is that he wants you to obey him completely.

How you handle pain is a great witness to the world. When you trust God in spite of suffering, you'll point unbelievers to him.

Spiritual growth must be purposeful. We don't know how many days we have left. Our next breath may be our last. So every step in our journey with Jesus should be taken on purpose.

Imagine the greatest things that could happen in your life. Whatever you imagine, God can outdo it! The Bible says in Ephesians 3:20, “Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine” (GW). Faith starts with stretching the imagination. It always begins with a concept, a vision, a dream, a mental picture. It always starts with an idea.

Fear is an issue that seems to impact us all in some form or fashion. Fear of failure, rejection, not measuring up, fear of death, of being alone, the fear of suffering… the list could go on. Fear is something we all wrestle with if we are honest. So, what can we do about it? Is there a way to live free from fear? God knew this would be a challenge for us, so throughout His Word He speaks straight to the heart of the matter. How can we live strong and courageous in the face of fear?

You can find a lot of commands in the New Testament, and some of them are really inconvenient and uncomfortable—things like “Don't worry about anything” or “In everything give thanks” or “Always return good for evil.” Some of them even seem impossible! Yet every demand God makes of us is a test of faith. When God asks you to do something that stretches you, you have to decide: Are you going to trust a gut feeling that says it's just too much for you to handle, or are you going to trust what God says is the right thing to do?

There is a strong belief in our culture that influences every one of us, whether we want it to or not: If it feels good, do it. But when you allow yourself to be manipulated by your moods, you are living your life according to your feelings. God wants you to live a different kind of life. He wants you to live a life of faith, not a life of feelings.

Hope is essential. You and I need genuine hope—not just optimism. Optimism is psychological. It's based on the way you think. Hope is theological. It's based on who God is and his relationship with you.

If things don't happen right away or when you think they should, that doesn't mean you should quit. You need to be diligent. You need to have endurance. You need to keep on.

A lot of people have a big misunderstanding about God. They know God planned their existence and has a purpose for their lives. But they have the wrong idea that every detail of life is preplanned. They think they have no choice. In fact, the Bible teaches the exact opposite. Yes, God has a plan and a purpose for your life, but it's not automatic. You can miss it.

A lot of people think God carries grudges. They picture God up in heaven, waiting to zap them for anything they do wrong. Here's what God is really like: “I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am. I will not hold your sins against you” (Isaiah 43:25 GNT). God wants to forgive, and he has done everything necessary to forgive our sins in Christ.

"If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:2 NIV). Love is not a feeling. Love is a choice. Even when you don't feel like it, you can choose to do it anyway.

In John 14:6, Jesus says that he is the way, the truth, and the life. Several chapters earlier, in John 8:32, he says, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (NIV). You know what guilt feels like. Guilt robs you of happiness. It causes depression. It can make you physically sick. When David, a great king of Israel, had sinned, he felt the weight of guilt. He said to God, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation” (Psalm 51:12 KJV).

Think about your typical week. How many times do you get caught up in feeling pressured by other people—by their lifestyles, their needs, the things they're doing, or what they expect of you? If you're feeling pressured, then there is great news for you: God can set you free from those expectations.

Your greatest impact will come from your greatest struggles. What do I mean? God never wastes a hurt. Instead, God uses the pain and struggles we face in life to point us back to Him, to strengthen us, to grow us – and yes, to comfort others.

Any lifeguard will tell you: You can't save anyone as long as they're trying to save themselves. If you try, that person will just pull you down, too. So you have to tread water until they finally give up, and then it's easy. You just put a hand over their shoulder, and you swim back to shore. It's the same with our relationship with God. When we try to fight through life's troubles on our own, we sink. Instead, God wants us to stop fighting and trust him to do the work.

When Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” he was defining himself. He was saying, “I know who I am.” At least 18 times in the Bible, Jesus said, “I am” and then gave a description. He described himself as the door, the bread of life, the way, the truth, the resurrection, and the life. Over and over, he defined himself. Jesus knew who he was (and still is), and as a result, he was not under pressure.

If you want to live a truly balanced life, you can only look at one person in all of history as a model: Jesus. If you put him at the center of your life, your life will be more balanced.

God is a good God, and he has good plans for your life. Other people have bad plans for your life, and you may make some bad plans yourself, but God only has good plans for your life.

How do you learn to live in God's love so that you can live free of fear? Every day, you have to surrender your heart to God. When you wake up each morning, before your feet hit the floor, you have to say, “God, before I even start this day, I surrender my emotions to you. I want you to be Lord of my feelings. I want you to control my mind and my emotions. I surrender my heart to you. I want you to fill me with your love.”

If you don't feel loved by God, then you most likely aren't going to offer love to anybody else. It's nearly impossible to be loving unless you understand and remember the way God loves you. You need to remind yourself every day what God thinks about you—not what the world thinks or what you think about yourself. Remembering God's love is what removes your fears.

Sometimes we need God to shake up our lives. It's especially true when we find ourselves locked up in prisons we created ourselves, like a habit we can't escape or an addiction that we keep running back to or fear that keeps us from taking an important step in life. If that's where you find yourself today, you may not be behind physical bars, but you might as well be. God always wants you to live in freedom, so sometimes God sends an earthquake.

If you want to build a deep relationship with God, you have to slow down and be quiet. Friendship with God is like any other friendship—you have to make time for it. If you don't make time for your friends, they're not your friends. And if God is going to be your best friend, you've got to give your best time to Him.

Yesterday we talked about the different storms and valleys that we go through in life. You may be in the middle of one of those valleys right now. These are hard places on your journey, where it's easy to doubt or forget God's goodness. But you can always trust that God walks through the valleys with you. And He's promised to bring you through to the other side.

It's impossible to live a life without going through storms. All of us will face storms. All of us will go through the wilderness from time to time. And that's okay. The real issue is how we respond. What happens next? Do these setbacks consume you and cause you to stop trying and give up?

When people approached Jesus, they always came for one of three reasons: a need, a hurt, or a question. Jesus didn't blow them off. He never told them they should've come for more doctrinally correct reasons. He just met their needs.

If you decided to run a race, you couldn't do it successfully with unnecessary baggage. You wouldn't wear nine layers of clothes. That would be ridiculous! People who run races successfully strip down to the bare essentials—a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, and the lightest pair of shoes they can find. They don't want to carry anything they don't absolutely need.

When you focus on your problems instead of trusting God, you're going to end up exhausted. And you're going to be defeated because you weren't designed to fight your battles alone. You don't have the power you need to face every problem in your own strength. You need God's power.

When you don't know who you are, you live for other people's approval. But God offers you so much more. He wants you to live in the true identity that he's given you. The Bible tells a famous story of someone who chose to live in his God-given identity—the story of Moses.