We
Have Enemies and a Secret Weapon
Really? Yes, and the first enemy is ourselves. We are our own worst
enemy when we fail to properly process the many forms of resistance we
experience in our lives.
Friends and associates can also hold us back. Sometimes they become
uncomfortable when we are willing to take reasonable risks that they are not
willing to take. They may try to discourage us in order to remain
comfortable with their own state of mediocrity. This is a great contrast
to those in our life who encourage us when we make difficult decisions.
Those are our real friends.
There is also spiritual resistance. This kind of resistance is unseen but
clearly felt. The Apostle Paul described it in the Bible when he wrote, “For
our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Paul makes it very
clear that we deal with a warfare that is not against people, but against the
spiritual powers that operate behind the scenes through people.
So, what is this resistance all about? It's just like football when every
yard gained in the red-zone comes with great difficulty. We all face our
own 300 pound linemen, who is intent on seeing that we don't reach the
end-zone. That formidable character may take the form of being
disappointed with life, tired and wanting a rest, having lost our vision for
the future and an array of other formidable obstacles. Going all the way
in life is not easy. Some tragically stop having made it 80% of the
way.
Don’t wimp out on the last 20 yards. Remember, you have a secret weapon
for facing down obstacles. It’s your natural ability that is now combined
with experience and influence. As my friend leading a seminar told
us, “You have leverage!” So, take it and push back on the resistance!
"The
art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming,
but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not
attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable." Sun Tzu
