Get Back Up

With new years there are new resolutions, and a dusting off of old ones too, but by February 14th 80% have failed. Life has a way of getting in it’s jabs, even when we don’t know we’re in a battle. How much more if you’re in it to make a difference! So after taking that hit, when you’re laying on the mat with Tweety Bird flying around your head—it’s okay—just be sure to get back up and in the fight.

If the world has convinced you not to try, Theodore Roosevelt said something that might help.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Theodore Roosevelt, Citizenship in a Republic speech excerpt

The Good Fight

Mistakes, weakness, and even giving up for a season won’t disqualify us in God’s kingdom, but we may need to evaluate our methods, timing, and goals. Peter denied Jesus three times for fear of not living and fighting another day. A big failure, but in Acts 4:18-31 we see an astounding display of Peter fighting for Jesus’s name rather than to protect his own.

We want God on our side, but we must first make sure we’re on His side. I don’t mean are you saved, but are your goals in line with His? Or are you asking the Almighty to change? When you come up against something, make sure it’s not the Holy Spirit who is stopping you. I’ll go ahead and break the news—you can’t win that war.

What’s more important than getting back up is picking your battles and knowing you are fighting the good fight. Don’t waste your efforts where the returns aren’t lasting, there are better results in building the eternal things of God.

“the one who sows to his flesh [his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses] will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).”

Galatians 6:8-10 AMP

You have to get back up to win the fight.

In the verses quoted above, I think Paul was combining a prayer with encouragement when he said, “Let us not…” And he didn’t tell the Galatians how to not give in, not grow weary, and not become discouraged in doing good.

The thing is, building something eternal is the Spirit of God’s business. Paul didn’t tell us how, ’cause we must not rely on our own strength, courage, hope, or endurance.

God knows what He’s called you to and provides what you need even when life throws punches. It’s when you fight for unworthy causes or when you don’t let God fight for you that you get knocked down. But even then God will help you to get back up to join Him in the fight. He wants to redeem your story, like He did Peter in Acts.

What have you been fighting for? Are you on God’s side? Is He fighting your battles for you? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!