Relating to people can be challenging when we struggle to overcome our problems, illness or temptations. The Christian life is a fight on a number of fronts. We are taught to fight by the Lord..
“Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight..” Psalm 144:1 KJV

We can never be complacent as there is much spiritual opposition from supernatural and natural sources.
Ephesians 6:12 NIV “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.”

As we learn to fight and serve, we find a greater liberty and confidence in the Scriptures. Daily we find a strength that is not our own that powers our service and a holy boldness to speak up for God and His ways.
2 Peter 3:18NIV “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”

The greater our confidence and personal strength, the greater it changes our relationships. Friendships become stronger with those who walk the same pathway and others fall away, who prefers other lords.
1 John 2:16 NKJV “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

There are times of solitary walk, as we come to terms with the situations we find difficult and as we develop skills to cope with life’s problems.
We must stand strong and walk with God in the power of the Spirit. Everything is heading towards that great and final day, and we must not loose heart or look back to past days. All is new and invigorating.
Malachi 4:2 NIV “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.”

There is a feeling of His presence in what we do and a deepening knowledge of who He is and what He requires of someone who loves and follows Him. There is a godly friendliness in His presence and a desire to be like Him. As time goes by, the relationship deepens into a lasting trust and a strong and forthright faith to fight the fight with Christ.

The Holy Spirit becomes increasingly involved in the intricacies of our lives and we seek only to please Him and not grieve Him into silence. Ephesians 5:8-11 NIV “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness …”

And so we walk with God. This is the Christian “norm.” There are no levels of spirituality and no hierarchies of importance. Each child of God is kept safe and will reach the heavenly home. Some reach it as grown-up believers, mature and bold. Other get through the door by a hairs-breadth. How wonderful to walk this world as the Holy Spirit reveals the character of Christ, and for those rare qualities to be found in us also…

God gave people with gifts…
Ephesians 4:12-13 NIV.
“to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”