Basic Training

When someone joins a branch of the military, they aren’t immediately given a gun and sent to the battle field. All branches have a basic training program, and when I looked it up, I found this description of basic training, “to teach recruits how to shut up, do what they are told and work as a team.” Being in the military is all about discipline and listening to your commanding officer, because they’ve “been there, done that,” and they have insight in situations that the recruits may think they know how to handle, but they don’t.

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, it’s like joining the Army. We aren’t immediately thrown into battle, instead we take baby steps in our Christianity, by obtaining some basic training. We start by reading some scriptures and making some new friends, who are sent to guide us on our new path. We begin to learn that we can’t just make decisions on our own…well, we can, but we figure out that God’s plans for us far exceed any that we design for ourselves. We also learn that having a family, other than our blood family, makes it easier to survive our battles fields. When we work as a team with like-minded people, we are more successful than when we attempt life on our own. If we’re smart, we also learn to shut up and listen to the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us as a compass and guide for our daily walk. When He thinks we’re ready, our Commanding Officer, will allow us into battle, not to harm us, but to strengthen us, as we rely on all we’ve learned…trust through submission and love through trials.

Being a believer is all about disciplining ourselves to becoming warriors for Jesus and listening to our Commanding Officer. God has insight that we know not of, better to accept that and march on, with Him leading the charge.