Week 15 - #Prepare - “What’s Worth Fighting For?”

Ephesians 6:13:Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

2 Timothy 4:7:I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Through my teenage years there were still cigarette commercials on TV, and there was one cigarette commercial promoting a slogan I still remember to this day.

"Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch!" This enduring slogan that appeared in magazine, newspaper, and television advertisements for Tareyton cigarettes from 1963 until 1981. It was the American Tobacco Company's most visible advertising campaign in the 1960s and 1970s.

Now I have never smoked a single cigarette (cigar on occasion around the poker table) in my entire life, so I cannot empathize with those that would rather fight than switch when it comes to cigarettes. But, it does make me wonder as we reflect on this slogan today, to ask “what are those things in your life you are so passionate about that you would rather fight than switch?”

I am not in any way literally talking about, nor endorsing, physical fighting. I am speaking about standing up for those you love, those that love you, and the causes that have the potential to positively transform lives that you hold dear to your heart.

What are those things that move you? You see if we are not moved by something(s), we are essentially just existing. If we are not “moved” we become stagnant. Stagnant becomes stale, and stale renders us apathetic as we find ourselves sitting on our hands watching life pass us by.

I believe fighting is a combination of passion plus action. Action that is purposeful and guided; bringing a vision into focus and fruition.

Ok, so how did we get here? From a slogan about cigarettes to pondering a deep question about fighting for our nonnegotiables?

We got here because every day God gives us is game day. God desires us to carry His banner. To fight for His Kingdom. To fight past our differences. To fight past our daily struggles. To fight to give God the glory in both good times and bad.

In this year of preparation, what do you need to do to insert yourself in the game? To fight as a participant. To be a contributor. We prep to fight by discerning and heeding God’s calling for us to connect our passion to action.

One more thing. Put on your armor! As Paul exhorted in Ephesians 6:13: “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

DADs, let's Suit Up and prepare to put on the armor of light Today!

To God be the glory!

DADs - “get in the game”… Today is game day…and so is every day…God gives you! So…C’mon Men Suit Up!

*Next week we will talk about what it means to prepare for flight. When do we, as the Hall of Fame singer Kenny Rogers once sang in his song the Gambler...“know when to hold them and know when to fold them?"

Remember to pass along our blog to those you believe would benefit from our message.**