Battle Belongs
by Peter Lane 16 July 2022
Romans 12 v14-21
Ask God to bless those who persecute you — yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think of yourselves as wise. If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, “I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.” Instead, as the scripture says: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame.” Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.
Some of you will know that over many years Chris and myself have been walking the South West Coast Path, a long-distance footpath that stretches for a distance of 630 miles from Minehead to Poole. We are now nearing the end of our adventure and recently walked the section from Lulworth Cove to Chapman's Cove in Dorset, a distance of 11 miles across military firing ranges with restricted access and the walking conditions graded as severe! We had put off doing this section of the path until now because of the difficulty in getting to the path and the thought that walking for miles across land used for military training using tanks and other weapons would leave the landscape scarred and desolate.
Well how wrong could we be! The landscape was stunning, and because the ranges are fenced off and have not been farmed for over seventy years the fields are full of wild flowers, including some varieties which are not found anywhere else in the country.
As we walked across the military firing ranges, I could not help but think what a fine line we tread between good and bad, and right and wrong. As we go through our lives we often face battles, and it is good to know that as we prayerfully consider the choices we have to make that God's love and kindness shines through all the darkness that surrounds us. Just like the military firing ranges near Lulworth, where the signs of destruction in the forms of burnt-out tanks and spent shells are overwhelmed by the natural beauty of God's creation.
God's love shines in the shadows and He wins every battle. Nothing can stand against the power of God.
YouTube shows adverts which may not be appropriate to the video we have selected.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
As I walk through the shadow, Your love surrounds me.
So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high.
Oh God, the battle belongs to You.
And every fear I lay at Your feet.
I'll sing through the night.
Oh God, the battle belongs to You.
Amen