CHOOSE TO STAND

2 Samuel 23:12 “But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.”

Our lives are marked by the choices we make. In a typical day, there are so many small choices that must be made. I choose to get up when the alarm goes off. I choose to take a shower and comb my hair. I choose what clothes to wear. I choose whether to eat or get coffee. I choose to have a good attitude or be sullen. Choices don’t stop. Choices never end.

In grade school you had to choose whether you liked him or her or not. In high school you had to choose who to hang out with and who to go out with. The choices continue into college. Do I go to class?? Will I pull an all-nighter or not? The average student who enters college with a declared major changes it three to five times. Then after graduation you go into the “real” world and still more choices. What car? What house? What job? Did you know that between the ages of 18-36 the average American will have 9.3 different jobs?

There are some areas of our life in which we may need to move over, change our mind, back up, adjust course, and give in. However, there are also times in life when we must choose to stand. There are times that we can’t back down or budge. There are times we must draw a line in the sand and refuse to move from that spot. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. Rest assured such a stand means there will be a fight. But it means a fight now rather than a fight for the rest of our lives. Our scripture offers an account of someone who understood this truth.

You see, we all will be confronted with a moment when we must choose to stand. The enemy will come. That is choice that we don’t get to make. I wish we could choose for the enemy not to come. I wish we could pick seasons in our life and say that season is off limits. I’m just not strong enough so give me a break. I am tired of fighting so don’t show up now. But the enemy will show up. And if you haven’t figured it out yet he is the master of timing. He will pick the right time. He will usually show up right in harvest time. Right when everything seems to be great. The crops are ripe. The raise is certain, the contract is almost final, the relationship is almost back to normal, right when you think everything is about to level back out, and then the enemy comes. Prepare for it. Don’t be surprised by it. Keep an eye open. He will come.

There are some things that we have to ask God about. There are grey areas that must be weighed out on the principles set in God’s Word. However, there are other areas that we don’t even have to pray about. We just need to choose to do what is right.

There is a time to make the choice to straighten your back, raise your head, stir your faith, and choose to stand while everyone else seems to be fleeing. Like Shammah, plant your feet in the middle of the pea patch and refuse to back up. Square your shoulders and draw a line in the sand and refuse to give up an inch of territory. He was a mighty man. So he chose to stand.