The Making of Spiritual Warrior - Week 1 - Monday Morning Devotions
Good morning and welcome to Daily Chapel - today's focus is on 'The Making of a Spiritual Warrior.' The training to make someone into a Spiritual Warrior is not a one-time event, nor is it a program to be completed. In other words, it is not merely a matter of being baptized, nor is it having completed a confirmation class or an adult instruction program. No, it is a cyclical ongoing and lifelong endeavor.
The making of a spiritual warrior involves three basic training components. These three components are to be repeated on a daily basis. The components are Prayer, Meditation on God's Sacred Word, and Temptation or suffering. Now please allow God's Spirit to speak to you as you listen to Psalm 119, beginning with verse 9.
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, O Lord; teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
Through these words, the Holy Spirit is at work speaking to you as you meditate on them. Did you note the different ways that the Sacred Word of God was referred to? They included: your word, your commands, your decrees, your laws, your statues, your precepts. The Spiritual Warrior is to meditate passively - allowing God's Spirit to speak and to direct and to transform one's life in preparation for Spiritual warfare against the devil, the world, and one's sinful nature.
The Evil One would have us rebel against our Creator and we often do. We often suffer due to our failures to obey God's commands and yet we also know that Jesus was that one Spiritual Warrior that completed His mission and gave the ultimate price for us who follow Him.
Please pray with me: Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.