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Harvest House Publishers - Jonathan Evans

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106 pages

English

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Today's Struggles Build Tomorrow's StrengthIn life's difficult moments, we find refuge when we remember that the God we serve fights our battles alongside us. Though we face moments when we feel we can't carry on, we take heart knowing that in times of turmoil, God equips us to grow in our faith and draw closer to Him.In Fighting Your Battles, author, speaker, and former NFL chaplain Jonathan Evans shows how you can face every hardship with strength and hope, confident that God will always use your trials for His glory. You'll understand what it means to evaluate the ';giants' in your life from God's point of viewrelinquish self-reliance and depend completely on the Lordprogress toward the purpose you were created to fulfillGod has new ground for you to gain, and often the land, promises, and experiences He wants for you are discovered as you endure life's struggles. Fighting Your Battles will give you biblical encouragement, support, and perspective, empowering you to follow God into victory.

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Philosophie et théologie

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Publié par	Harvest House Publishers
Date de parution	06 septembre 2022
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9780736984058
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	1 Mo

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HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
Scripture version credits appear at the back of the book
Cover design by Faceout Studio, Spencer Fuller
Cover photo by subbery / Shutterstock
Interior design by Aesthetic Soup
For bulk, special sales, or ministry purchases, please call 1-800-547-8979.
Email: Customerservice@hhpbooks.com
This logo is a federally registered trademark of the Hawkins Children s LLC. Harvest House Publishers, Inc., is the exclusive licensee of this trademark.
Fighting Your Battles
Copyright 2022 by Jonathan Evans
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97408
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
ISBN 978-0-7369-8404-1 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-0-7369-8405-8 (eBook)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022931567
All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other-without the prior written permission of the publisher. The authorized purchaser has been granted a nontransferable, nonexclusive, and noncommercial right to access and view this electronic publication, and purchaser agrees to do so only in accordance with the terms of use under which it was purchased or transmitted. Participation in or encouragement of piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of author s and publisher s rights is strictly prohibited.
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to my father, Tony Evans.
During my mom s illness, I watched you fight like a lion, leading a pride to safety-and since her homegoing, you have continued to show me that our pain on earth is meant to produce perseverance and power for heaven.
As your son, I will never forget your example of faith within the battle.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Fighting Your Battles was a team effort from start to finish. I d like to thank the following teammates who played key roles in helping me get this book across the goal line:
My wife, Kanika, who fights alongside me every day.
Our kids-Kelsey, Jonathan II, Kamden, Kylar, and Jade-who constantly remind me of God s love and purposes for me as one of His children.
The entire Evans family, including Dad and Mom, my sisters Chrystal and Priscilla, and my brother, Anthony. Even now, my inspiration comes from each of you. With your whole lives, you ve taught me how to remain steadfast in every battle that God calls us to. Thank you for your commitment to Him and to me.
The entire Harvest House team, who are great partners and devoted co-laborers in God s kingdom. A special thanks to Bob Hawkins for his leadership, his friendship, and his belief in me as a preacher and author; Steve Miller, who had a real vision for this book and who, despite a very busy schedule of his own, was always available to offer wise editorial insight; and Kim Moore, who guided the manuscript through the design and production process.
Kris Bearss, who poured her heart and gifts into helping me develop and shape my spoken messages for a wider audience.
And last but definitely not least, my niece Kariss and her husband, Joshua Farris, for creating visual content for this book that will help inspire God s people to victory.
CONTENTS
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Every Christian s Playbook for Victory
CHAPTER 1: Facing Giants
CHAPTER 2: Thirsty
CHAPTER 3: Fighting God s Way
CHAPTER 4: Keep It Close
CHAPTER 5: Higher Than You Think
CHAPTER 6: Close to the Fire
CHAPTER 7: More Than a Believer
CHAPTER 8: From Safe to Faith
CHAPTER 9: Building for the Forecast
CHAPTER 10: Step Back
CHAPTER 11: Raise Your Javelin
CHAPTER 12: From Test to Testimony
Scripture Versions Used in This Book
If You Loved Fighting Your Battles , You ll Also Want to Get
About the Publisher
EVERY CHRISTIAN S PLAYBOOK FOR VICTORY
E verybody has some kind of battle. Everybody. My dad, pastor Tony Evans, has often told me, You re either in a battle, on your way to a battle, or you just came out of one.
That s how life is. Trials and tribulations are headed your direction if they haven t shown up already. And like the mail you get in your box marked Occupant, trouble doesn t care who lives where you live. But it has your address.
I ve been going through some things recently for my own transformation. One of the hardest has been losing seven close family members to sudden death or long-term disease in less than two years, including my mom. I watched how bravely she fought cancer, how her faith sustained her and God strengthened her even as her body grew weaker. I ve also seen what God has done to uphold me and my family in all of it.
Battles like these have really challenged me to think about what it means to fight God s way-relying on His power rather than my own. With this book, I want to process with you what I ve been learning about the battles we all face. There are lessons that become clear only through trials and troubles. Those lessons gear us up to handle the hard times better, fight the good fight, and persevere toward the purpose God calls us to.
Already I can see that certain things are foundational.
Your victory starts with the battle. You might be saying, I m in this mess right now, but don t forget: the mess is the precursor to your miracle. Everybody who loves and serves God is going to go from test to testimony. That s the way of faith. First comes the battle, then the victory. The test strengthens your faith in Him; the victory solidifies your story with Him.
Battles are necessary in order to gain ground. In Bible times, tribes and nations often fought over acreage: they were either trying to add new land or defend their land from being taken away. We rarely go to war over physical property lines anymore, but spiritually we do. Emotionally we do. Relationally we do. In our lives and jobs and families and ministries, we are battling to protect and to progress what God has reserved for us.
God has new ground for you to gain, but it never comes easy. Battles must be fought. The land, the promises, and the experiences that are meant to be a part of your purpose only come as you stand and fight.
God is not wasteful. A common question in the heat of the struggle is why. Why am I going through this? Or Why is this person I love having to go through this?
This could be any hardship: illness, foreclosure, divorce, abuse, rejection, loneliness, depression, loss. God won t leave you empty, and He won t leave you behind. Those experiences are what He is using to build a future that will fulfill you and move His kingdom forward.
Knowing that He doesn t waste anything can help bring you through the valleys, as it s doing for me and my family.
God doesn t waste the things that overwhelm you.
He doesn t waste the things that beat you up.
He doesn t waste the trials that test you.
Is your pit extra deep right now? Has God allowed great misery to come to you? Then have hope: He intends great ministry through you. The depth of that hole often represents the height that God plans to take you.
We will get a deeper look at these truths and many others in this book. But every story I ll share here, and every Scripture we will study, has one main message: Depend on God. All your battles belong to Him. He says so in 2 Chronicles 20:15: Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God s.
You and I are going to face enemies beyond what we can endure. Battles beyond what we can bear. Questions beyond what we can answer. All that opposition helps us recognize our need for the only One who can overcome on our behalf.
Whatever war you re in, brother whatever struggle you re facing, sister depend on God, who fights for you. He is able to do greater things in you and through you than you think are possible, because every battle of yours is actually His.
CHAPTER 1
FACING GIANTS
M y wife, Kanika, and I put our son Jonathan II (we call him J2) in real football-tackle football-when he was eight. One reason I wanted to do that is because, at that age, the players are like cotton balls hitting each other, you know? I mean, eight-year-olds have on pads but they aren t tackling. They re basically hugging each other and trying to wrestle each other down. That s how they get used to the game.
I didn t want to wait until J2 was twelve to put him in real football because boys bring in a little more thunder then, and he probably would ve walked away from the game. Still, even at eight years old, he was smart. He s a thinker. So when we got to the field where they were about to have their first game, J2 ran up there to check it all out. As soon as he got a look at the players on the other team, he said, Dad, there are some big guys out here! They re bigger than me.
And the dad in me rose up. Anyone who knows me knows it wasn t compassionate dad eyeballing my son in that moment. It was competitive dad, the one who played D1 and NFL football. So what? I said.
No, Dad. Look J2 pointed to a couple of opposing players doing warm-ups. Look how that kid catches the ball. Then his eyes bugged. Look at how fast that other kid is!
So, here was my son, standing on the sidelines analyzing his opponents before his very first game. I mean, he hadn t put his pads on, hadn t done any warmups, but already he was worried about the competition. The problem is, while he was busy analyzing his giants, he forgot himself. He forgot that he can catch anything thrown his way. That he s a natural athlete. That he is tall and rangy. And most of all, the dude has wheels !
I had to put that in front of his face-show him who he is-so he could remember and be ready for the game.
I m using that analogy so you can think about your own life. When you re looking at a challenge in front of you, how do you see it? When life comes at you with some kind of giant, is your perspective based on your challenge or your