2 Timothy 2:4
A soldier does not get himself distracted by civilian pursuits; he fully engages himself with the job at hand. (Mirror Bible)

What kind of soldier are you?

When you are at war, emotional entanglements can pull your focus. You will always have distractions in your life. The devil will see to it. You have to learn to allow God to show you how to manage them. Distractions arise from everyday life: job, career, spouse, children, church, etc. You often have to make some tough decisions, some of which may cause you to disappoint someone. There are demands for your attention coming from every direction, and sometimes feelings come into play. You get the point? Submit the circumstances of everyday life to God. Allow Him to direct how much time and energy you will spend, which will also allow Him to use them to grow you up.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (KJV)

You can’t separate “spiritual activities” from “everyday activities.” Even if you thought you had enough time, you don’t have the wisdom. You are a soldier in the army of the Lord, all day, every day. He uses every encounter as needed to help you become useful as a tool in His hands. Evaluate what kind of soldier you are every day.

• Do you recognize the sound of your commander’s voice?
  John 10:3b-5 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him; the sheep hear his voice as he calls his own sheep by name, and he leads them out. 4 When he has brought them out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow someone else; instead, they will run away from such a person, because they do not know his voice. (Good News Translation GNT)
  Get more familiar with the Lord’s voice by spending more time listening to it in prayer, worship, and especially by reading and studying the Bible.

• Do you know how to use the weapons He gave?
  Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. (Amplified Bible AMP)
  Always keep in mind that you are engaged in spiritual warfare. The only way to succeed in the fight is to be proficient in using spiritual weaponry.

• Do you understand the strategy of the enemy?
  2 Corinthians 11:14 And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light; (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)
  
  1 Peter 5:8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)
  Make sure you have done your reconnaissance. The enemy is always on his job, and he never rests. Be as shrewd as he is. Study the methods he uses to exploit your weaknesses. Arm yourself knowing the Lord will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5), the Lord has made a way of escape for you (1 Corinthians 10:13), and you are greater because He is in you (1 John 4:4).

It may seem as if your time is all used up as you live your life. However, there are choices you must make if you are to be a good soldier. You need to include, in your way of life, designated time you will spend in the presence of the Father without distractions.

Please agree with me as I pray:

Father, life brings with it drama, circumstances, decisions, the need to care for loved ones and much more. This is not just my reality, it is everyone’s. I repent for thinking I am a good soldier because I whisper prayers throughout the day and when I encounter life’s challenges. I know I have to dedicate time to spend with You. Only in Your presence can You develop my character and strengthen the inner me. Some things have to wait, and You are not one of them. I may have to pass up that conversation on the phone. I may have to miss the movies with my friends. I may have to decide not to go on that outing. Those decisions could cause the people in my life to feel rejected or hurt. As I pray right now, please cover them and the choices I have to make. Allow them to they know me by my spirit and hear You when I speak. Show me what I need to do to help them understand my desire is to be with You, not to hurt or reject them…

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Ask the Lord what He wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal His response as described here.