Knocked Down, But Not Out!

 
I Corinthians 9:26, 27

When I think about our christian walk, I think about a boxer in the ring with his opponent.  This boxer starts off with his eyes on his prize.  He begins pounding on his opponent and dodging everything that is being swung on him.  All of a sudden, this boxer gains more confidence because it seems that the opponent can't even touch him.  As he gets more confidence, he may get a little at ease and misjudge the opponents next move and then as soon as the boxers' eyes gaze on something else, BAM!  The boxer gets struck and is down for the count.

Our spiritual walk with Christ has been sort of like this analogy.  We start off trusting and relying on God, fasting, praying, reading and studying our bibles, and even witnessing.  Even when satan throws small punches at us, in the beginning we keep right on talking faith.  All the while, our confidence is growing and growing.  Sometimes, we get to the point where we stop reading our bibles as often, stop fasting and praying and even witnessing.  Why?  We become familiar with our opponent.  No soon as we take our eyes off of the prize of God and look at our situations even briefly, BAM!  Knocked down by satan.

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of satan knocking me down.  We've all been knocked down before.  Thank God that knocked down, does not mean defeated.  Yes, satan may have knocked you down, but he hasn't knocked you out.  Know that it's not over until the bell rings.  Yeah, people might be counting on you falling.  They may even be up to number 9, but until the Lord rings the bell, it's not over.

I want to encourage you all today.  Keep fighting the good fight of faith.  Keep trusting in God.  Satan may be able to knock you down, but you're not knocked out.  Jesus is in your corner telling you that you can make it.  Just keep your eyes on God and watch your situation change.