2 Timothy 2:3
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Are you a good soldier?

Here is an excerpt from a great poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Forward, the Light Brigade!’
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though’ the soldier knew
Someone had blundered:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die,
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
(The Charge of The Light Brigade, Alfred Lord Tennyson)

Sounds like the army Gideon gathered (Judges 7). There is an attitude you must have as a soldier in war, no excuses, no whining and no complaining. You have to realize you may die on the battlefield, your leader may make a mistake that wounds you, there may be nights when you don’t sleep, you may see friends and love ones wounded or even die. What are attributes of godly soldiers (2 Timothy 2:3-4, 4:7)?

• They endure hardship and do not quit.
• The troubles along the way do not detour them.
• They understand pain is often part of the Christian experience (John 16:33).
• They face life with patience (Hebrews 12:1).
• Their trials and the things they suffer do not move them from their deliberate purpose, loyalty, faith, and reverence.

God is not just looking for you to say yes when He calls. He’s looking for you to still say yes when the going gets tough; to still say yes as tears roll down your face; to still say yes, even if you cannot see all the fruits of your labor.

2 Timothy 1:12 The confidence of my calling enables me to overcome every difficulty without shame, for I have an intimate revelation of this God. And my faith in him convinces me that he is more than able to keep all that I’ve placed in his hands safe and secure until the fullness of his appearing. (The Passion Translation TPT)

This is the attitude of a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Please agree with me as I pray:

Father God, I want to be a good soldier. I don’t want to always question why I have to do what You have called me to do. I repent for all the time I spent worrying, whining, murmuring, and complaining about the difficulties. I will no longer come to You to tell You I feel like I am all by myself; or there is no one who understands me or all of the other things I used to come to You whining and complaining about. Then I wasn’t a good soldier. I am getting better every day; on the battlefield and I will fight to the death. When You call me home, I want You to say, “Well done!”. Whatever You need to do in me, expose those frailties, erase the doubts, etc. Get rid of anything causing me to hesitate or waiver at Your commands. Make me a good soldier…

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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.