Some years ago, our men’s group did a video series based on John Eldridge’s book, Wild at Heart. It was an exceptional study. Session five is titled “A Battle to Fight.” Now think about this for a minute — date night with your bride and it’s always a challenge to decide what to see. She wants to see the “touchy feely” movies, like “Fried Green Tomatoes,” “Steel Magnolias,” or “The Notebook” (I’m reaching back so that I’m not endorsing anything on the big screen today). You want to see “Gladiator,” “Braveheart,” “We Were Soldiers,” or the most recent Bond flick. For every action movie I take Lynne to, I owe her at least one (or more) chick flick dates. I’m way behind. I thought I could kill two birds with one stone and told her I’d take her to see “Pride and Prejudice” (not mentioning the “and Zombies” part). Major misfire, let me tell you.

The reality is that we were made for battle. In the Old Testament, many of God’s chosen men were warriors — Joshua, Caleb, Barak, Gideon, Samson, and David. The prophets of old were men who engaged the spiritual idolatry of the day. Why would we think that it is any different today? The problem today is that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12 ESV).

Now, there is a certain satisfaction in popping my neighbor in the face when his humongous dog (Goliath) does the dastardly deed in my front yard! That, however, is not the kind of men we are called to be. Remember when James and John, the Sons of Thunder, wanted to nuke a Samaritan Village by calling down fire from heaven (Luke 9:54)? “But He turned and rebuked them and said ‘Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.’ And they went to another village” (Luke 9:55-56 KJV).

Too often we focus on the visible and tangible. Paul cautioned the Corinthian believers to “look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient (temporary), but the things that are unseen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:18 ESV, parentheses mine). While wrestling with flesh and blood might bring some temporary sense of satisfaction, it doesn’t do anything to gain victory in the areas we should be fighting for.

All too often the praying these days is done by the women, and only infrequently by men. I appreciate the many godly women whose prayers for our church and our leadership can always be counted on, but guys we need to get in the fray! Satan comes “only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they (you) may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 ESV, parentheses mine). Satan is making inroads in our schools, in our communities, in our laws and in our politics. You may think that you don’t have any ability to change things, but God’s word tells us otherwise.

Elijah is one of my favorite Bible figures — he seems larger than life. One day he’s calling down fire from heaven and killing the prophets of Baal. The next day he’s running for the hills because Jezebel threatened his life. But before that he prayed that it would not rain, and for three and half years there was a great drought. Then he prayed again, and the rains came! James tells us, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16 ESV). Our righteous standing is all based on what Christ has done for us, not on our own merit, so we can take that to the bank.

Start praying now and see what God does! What say ye Man of Valor?