Earlier this week, I realized that I had an extremely important tool in my possession that I was carrying with me. As I was chatting with a new friend, I immediately knew why she was sharing her heartbreak with me: she desperately needed what I had. And I realized, I have shared this same tool over and over again -- how many more people are out there who are in absolute turmoil who need to know what I know?

"Be still, and know that I AM God" - Psalm 46:10 

Scripture repeatedly tells us to "be still." Yet, in this fast-paced world, it can seem almost impossible to quiet your mind. It seems like you'd have to be a monk on some remote mountain top to get any kind of peace, and yet, even that seems like a foreign thought. But Warriors must know how to still their minds, how to silence the thoughts that rage through their heads, to calm their hearts. 

This morning, as I spent time in prayer on my way to work, I was suddenly struck by the most glorious realization: What an honor it is to enter spiritual warfare for such a great and glorious King! There is no greater honor in my life than to serve Him in intercessory warfare.  What an honor it is to live a life of battle in service to the Lord. 

I have never been in the military, and I have never seen battle in natural. But I do know what spiritual warfare is like, and the more I enter battle, the more glorious it becomes. The more you realize you aren't doing something as small as battling for your own life, but rather, you are serving a great and mighty King, and your work is pleasing to Him.

So many people find prayer difficult, boring, tedious and simply dull. The minutes seem like hours and they could think of a million ways they'd rather be spending their time. This is not so for me. See, when you split your life into parts, as if some parts belonged to God, and other pieces belonged to you, you are not giving God your whole life. Then, in selfishness, those moments that should be wholly God's feel like precious time being wasted. You are not giving Him your all, and you selfishly (and foolishly) trick yourself into believing that your life is your own. Our lives are not our own. God gave us our lives, and the least we can do is give our lives in service back to Him. It is the least we can give to Him, because He is worthy of so much more! 

Think of it: if you gave Him every minute of every day of your life, and you praised Him and rejoiced in Him and declared how glorious His name was with all your heart and all your strength and you gave it all, it would still not be enough. You could never possibly give Him praise that lives up to, or could possibly describe or fully declare His worth, His beauty, His glory, His grace, His mercy and all that He is. And yet, He loves our weak and feeble praise. So how selfish must we be, how self-absorbed must we be to think that giving a few minutes to Him in prayer is a hassle? How selfish must we be to decide to separate our lives into parts we reluctantly give to Him, and parts we greedily keep for ourselves to live in sin and disobedience? Our lives should be in ongoing conversation with Him, lived fully for Him at every moment, in constant union, partnership, communication and relationship with Him.

Today, as you begin your day, I challenge you to see yourself on a great and glorious battlefield, with angels alongside you. See the Lord as the great and glorious King He really is, and let your heart be overcome in fear, wonder, love, praise and awe. Let His beauty and grace and brilliance overtake you! Let praise and thanksgiving pour forth from your heart, and give Him the glory He deserves.