Expenses mount. Windows of opportunity seem nailed shut. Physical pain and emotional lows weigh us down. Ordinary tasks of laundry and housework grow overwhelming. The pits of life can feel impossibly dark and leave us certain of defeat.
I’ve been there. The pit tempts me to return often, even daily in some seasons. Especially when I face the abyss alone.
The dragons we feared as children lurk in the unseen realms, but remain all the more real as threats to our lives. We can languish in the dungeon pits and allow ourselves to remain prisoners. Or slay the dragons and live as heroes.
I’ve learned to arm myself against the darkness in this daily fight for faith and life. When the shadows whisper and claw at my soul, I recognize the need for truth, strength, and fellow warriors. It has taken years of training to develop awareness of these dragons and hone the skills to fight against them. I’ve also grown more concerned about how many other potential warriors dwell in the oppressive dungeons crafted by our enemy. And how critical each soul’s defeat shall prove in this fight against the rise of dragons.
The treacherous enemy will insist your life doesn’t matter. This horned serpent will also try to convince you the defeated position you’re experiencing is final. Along with the illusion that you’re the only one who has lost this type of skirmish.
Make no mistake, my sister warrior. These. Are. Lies.
Forged in the fires of hell to hold you captive from the heroic life for which you were destined. The sinister foe wraps his tail around your stronghold walls to fortify the bricks you’ve unwittingly allowed to remain around you. Yet, Christ unlocks the doors for all who choose his gift of life. Freedom from captivity remains a matter of slaying the dragons still holding an unauthorized position of influence.
With training and teamwork, we can venture as heroes toward freedom and triumph for the entire kingdom. Each victory can guide other potential warriors out of their pits. Individuals bring unique and vital gifts which strengthen the team. Contrary to the enemy lie, therefore, every life matters.
Though I’m often tempted to face dragons on my own, I’m quickly reminded of the perilous consequences.
The world needs you in this fight. And so do I.
Here’s my invitation to venture out of the pit and claim your first fresh breath of freedom. Accepting the keys of life through Christ is the first and greatest victory. Let’s take the next steps to slay those dragons together.
In this series, we’ll train together as warriors to develop heroic skills and gain awareness of how to arm ourselves against the ongoing attacks of dragons. A formidable enemy rules these dragon legions and sets them against God’s beloved, warriors and potential warriors alike. Though we must acknowledge the dragon’s existence, we need not focus on him in fear. Instead, we’ll concentrate our attention on the strengths at our disposal to slay the undeserved power this foe has usurped.
If you join our warrior training, you’ll learn to slay such dragon hordes as:
- The Dragons of Misplaced Authority
- The Dragons of Shame
- The Dragons of Insecure Self-Guardedness
We’ll also build an arsenal to help you remain equipped against ongoing attacks. Scripture and clinical research will arm us with truth and wisdom. We’ll optimize our prayer power and bolster one another by supporting each participant’s requests as a warrior network. In addition to freedom and fighting, warriors can take their heroic living to the next level as leaders.
Each area of training will include an optional live (and ongoing chat) discussion in the Beautiful Warrior Tribe Group (also known among tribe members as our Facebook castle).
I will also post the videos on my YouTube channel, where I will respond to comments.
Guests may join us for interviews to share more details about certain aspects of battle-readiness or leadership skills. If you have specific content you’d like to see in our discussions or on the blog posts about slaying inner dragons, please share your feedback with me! I’d love to get your input in the comments below, or via the contact page here on my site. If sending an email through the contact form, add “divine warrior training” to the subject line so I can recognize the nature of your message right away.
Are you in? Ready to claim your power and slay the dragon holding you back from your destiny? Join the battle cry and let us know you’re on the march to gain strength. Comment to say you are up for the next step. We’re in this war together, sister warriors.
Let’s do this.
Be Encouraged,
Tina
P.S. Here are a few verses to help lace your gladiator boots:
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life” (John 3:16, MSG).
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” ( 1Peter 5:8-9).
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Ephesians 6:10-20).
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).
I’m lacing my gladiator boots. I’m in for this “adventure as heroes toward freedom and triumph for the entire kingdom.” May our every victory “guide other potential warriors out of their pits. Individuals bring unique and vital gifts which strengthen the team.” I’m so very glad to be on your team, Tina.
I love the dragon metaphors. I’ve been telling my grandchildren dragon stories I make up on the spot for years.
Like you, I’ve preferred battling dragons on my own. For too long now. Unwise choice. Together. We need to stand together with our shields of faith over our heads. “When the shadows whisper and claw at my soul, I recognize the need for truth, strength, and fellow warriors.” Amen. I’m with you.
Chris Sauter Manion
Beautiful Warrior Tribe and fellow author
http://www.ChrisManion.com