Holley Gerth - Strong, Brave, Loved: 21 Ways to Live a Fiercehearted Life

We are worth fighting for too . God loves all his kids alike. Its only us who differentiate. Who tell ourselves everyone and everything else is deserving of our courage and compassion and fierceness but us. This is one of the trickiest lies. Please dont believe it.

Fiercehearted

SOME DAYS THE THOUGHTS STILL COME like an assault as soon as I open my eyes...

Youre not doing enough.

Youre letting people down.

When are you going to get it together?

A few years ago, I uttered a frustrated prayer in my car. God, why does the enemy seem so determined to destroy my joy? And it felt like I heard a whisper within my heart in response: Hes not really after your joy. Hes after your strength.

Immediately I thought of Nehemiah 8:10: The joy of the L ORD is your strength. Ah, yes, now it made sense.

The enemy of my soul wasnt simply out to make me have a bad day. Instead, he was trying to do something far more sinister: make me ineffective in the kingdom. Weaken my faith. Quiet my voice. Make sure I cower in fear rather than stand in holy confidence.

Weve all probably had well-meaning people say to us, Just be joyful! like its an easy thing. As if the moment we decided to follow Jesus our lives would be cotton-candy happy forever, so we should just get with the program. But heres the truth: Joy requires all-out war. Every day. For the rest of our lives.

Heres the good news: We arent fighting alone. God is with us, for us, and on our side. He is even more committed to our victory than we are. In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Rom. 8:37). We just have to be willing to join the battle.

Were told to put on the armor of God, and there is only one offensive weapon in it: The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17). We guard our joy with truth. When the lies come, we have to slash them with what God says instead.

Youre not doing enough. Truth: I only have to do what Jesus wants me to today, and he will enable me to do so. I can do all this through him who gives me strength (Phil. 4:13).

Youre letting people down. Truth: Im not perfect, so sometimes I will let people down. What matters is being obedient to God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christs servant (Gal. 1:10 NLT).

When are you going to get it together? Truth: Im human, and as long as Im on earth, Ill still be in progress. But God is growing me each day. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:6).

We dont have to believe the enemy. Were not weaklings. Were warriors. So lets stand firm. Raise the sword of truth. Never surrender our joy. Its time to fight like women who belong to the God who can never be defeatedwhich means we cant be either.

Five Minutes to Becoming More fierce hearted

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Ephesians 6:1213

God, may your love always be louder than the lies. I will live in the truth. I will guard my joy. I will listen to your voice. You give me the strength to fight and to win. Amen.

How has the enemy tried to take your joy? Whats one way you can guard it today?