We are warriors of God, this is an important and life changing realization, but for us to know how to walk in that role, we need to understand what it means to be a warrior of God. Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

This Scripture is entirely true, but once we better understand what a warrior of God does, we realize that this Scripture does not nullify that position. For a warrior of God is not a person who seeks out conflict, nor do they fight every battle they see. They listen to the Holy Spirit so that they know when they are to fight and when they are not. Spiritual positioning is their center of operations.

2 Chronicles 20:17 "You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you."

A warrior of God has many of the characteristics of God, because each of God’s warriors is made in His image. What does that mean in terms of how we are to fight our battles?

When Jesus was tempted in the desert; He resisted the devil, fought him with the Word of God—with Truth—and the enemy had no way of winning against Him. It is also important to remember that the enemy attempted to battle Jesus WITH the Word. Yet, because Jesus is the Word and because He battled as a warrior of God—with Godly wisdom—nothing the enemy tried to do to twist God’s Word worked. A true warrior of God has the Holy Spirit inside of them, guiding them in His Word, so that they can battle with God’s Word as Jesus did. Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Godly characteristics and behaviors stand deep in the heart of God’s warriors. What makes a warrior of God? What things should we see in His warriors? What behaviors? What actions?

All of these things are vital, however, the list, while long, should not intimidate us but encourage us. Each of us is a work in progress. God does not choose us because we are perfect. He chooses us because He sees something in our character and personality that He wants in His kingdom.

The Lord is a potter selecting the clay, or marble or a diamond in the rough that is moldable and that will stand up once it is finished. He understands fully the time and process it will take to transform raw material into something spectacular, but He envisions what is hidden inside the clay, the diamond or the marble. He sees not only who we are now, but who we will become when He is allowed to take His tools and shape us.

Maybe we are great at maintaining a spirit of praise within us. Or we realize deep within our spirit that God is a God of justice and therefore we too love justice. We might have a spirit of praise within us and love singing or be musical, but we might lack in some other area. Or we have perseverance and do not give up or quit, even if tired we get back out and keep going. Yet God also knows that in other areas we might be lacking. So He chooses people that will compliment and work well together. What one lacks another will have and so He builds His church, so we all can help one another. We may not be "finished products" yet, but God stands ready and willing to shape us.

Following God is the first step. Building a relationship with Him the next step, because, as your understanding of who He is develops, your character shifts. We begin to behave more like Him; because we spend time with Him and understand His thoughts expressed within His written word. Rom 12:1-8 "Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God. vs:2 Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him. vs:3 I realize how kind God has been to me, and so I tell each of you not to think you are better than you really are. Use good sense and measure yourself by the amount of faith that God has given you. vs:4 A body is made up of many parts, and each of them has its own use. vs:5 That's how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another. vs:6 God has also given each of us different gifts to use. If we can prophesy, we should do it according to the amount of faith we have. vs:7 If we can serve others, we should serve. If we can teach, we should teach. vs:8 If we can encourage others, we should encourage them. If we can give, we should be generous. If we are leaders, we should do our best. If we are good to others, we should do it cheerfully."

Being a work in progress, does not mean we are not to press onward and upward toward our call in God. It does not mean that we will not have battles or victories because we have not 'arrived.' By the time Jesus was tested in the desert, He was hardly in prime physical condition. He had been 40 days without food, He was hungry, He was not at home where He could have a fire at night or shelter in the day it was in that place where Satan's attack came. It was there He was tested.

Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ, and I live; yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith toward the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself on my behalf."

Just as Jesus experienced, our battles may not come when everything is just right. Sometimes we might be hungry, tired, and not wanting to fight when the battle arises. Sometimes we may feel as bold as lions. Yet, as many Scriptures state at the time of battles, the battle belongs to the Lord. 2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.' "

As David did, going to face the giant, when we are led to do so, –even if the weapons we carry and our own size seem inadequate, –that is when obedience and faith leads to victory! Almighty God moves with power and receives all the glory because the battle is His! 1Sa 17:45-51 "David said to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of Jehovah of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. vs:46 Jehovah will deliver you into my hand today, and I will strike you and take your head from you and give the bodies of the army of the Philistines to the birds of the air today, and to the wild beasts of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. vs:47 And all this multitude shall know that Jehovah does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is Jehovah's, and He will give you into our hands. vs:48 And it happened when the Philistine rose and went and drew near to meet David, David hurried and ran toward the ranks to meet the Philistine. vs:49 And David put his hand into his bag and took a stone from there, and slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead. And he fell on his face to the earth. vs:50 And David was stronger than the Philistine with a sling and with a stone. And he struck the Philistine, and killed him. But no sword was in the hand of David. vs:51 And David ran and stood on the Philistine, and took out his sword and drew it out of its sheath, and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, and fled."

Listening to the Holy Spirit is key to achieving victory. It is the Word which tells us what battles we are to engage in, how we are to fight, and what we need to do. Battles, even those that happen in the natural, are spiritually driven. We do not battle against flesh and blood, and the weapons we typically use need to be chosen accordingly. Ephesians 6:12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

Many of the battles we fight can be accomplished on our knees in prayer and intercession. While others require additional weapons, such as praise and worship. Or even taking territory in the mountain of influence that God has put us in! We need to remember that the battle belongs to the Lord. We need to seek Him and His will first and foremost. He needs to be the one who chooses what battles we are to face and which weapons we are to use. The Lord is our admiral, our general, and choosing to follow His commands is the surest way to achieve victory! God sees the whole picture, He has the maps, information, and vision to see us safely through any challenge...

When the Lord tells us to face our giants, we are to be like David, stepping forward in obedience and faith, trusting God to do the rest. To do the big thing. It is time for us to stand as a warrior of God; to pray, to listen, and to battle as God directs. It is time for us to realize that victory comes not through us, but through our Great Almighty God! Let us therefore boast in the Lord, for it is He who gives us victory. To God be the glory and praise for indeed the battle belongs to the LORD God Almighty! Psalm 20:7 Paraphrased "~Some find their strength in their weapons and wisdom, but my miracle deliverance can never be won by men. Our boast is in the Lord our God, who makes us strong and gives us victory!"