Battle Plan

I like old war movies. I love seeing the leaders strategize and plan in the midst of incredible stress and pressure. The history of the United States is rich with story upon story of war strategy and battle plans. I remember hearing General Norman Schwarzkoph explain the strategy of the ground offensive that toppled the Republican Guard of Iraq in the first Gulf War called Desert Storm. He told of how he made a lot of noise on the front line and made it clear they were going into Iraq from Kuwait, while he had a huge number of soldiers and tanks flanking around to the north cutting off the supply line of the enemy. He was an incredibly colorful leader and strategist. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his stellar leadership as the commander of the American-led forces. He had a great quote on leadership: “Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.”

The Lord’s battle strategy had to absolutely baffle the men of Israel’s army, but they followed it at Jericho. The strategy involved obedience to the Lord’s plan. Check this out…

2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March round the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Make seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march round the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, make the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.’ (Joshua 6:2-5 NIV)

I love the strategy of the Lord in the battle of Jericho because the people had to know it was He who delivered the city, not them. His battle strategy worked just like He planned. Their role was to follow His strategy completely and the city would be theirs. This was the first major offensive as they entered the Promised Land for their conquest.

I know that the Lord always has a strategy for me. It’s not always logical to others and me. His strategy is often way less complicated than I make it. Sometimes faith and trust are on opposite sides of logic and common sense. I want to trust the Lord’s strategy no matter how logical the other options may be.

The Lord gives me a strategy to defeat suffering.

The Lord gives me a strategy to push through pain.

The Lord gives me a strategy to love others.

The Lord gives me a strategy to serve others.

The Lord gives me a strategy to lead my family.

The Lord gives me a strategy to lead in my workplace.

The Lord has a strategy for every area of my life, IF I will consult Him, listen and implement His plan. He has a plan for today!

Pressing On!

Dwayne