Warriors And Runners
When it comes to dealing with our addictions and the temptations we face throughout each day regarding pornography, lust and masturbation, we must always think li
ke warriors and runners. We discussed this the other night at our warriors gathering.
The concepts of being in strict training; running with perseverance; and living purposefully are crucial for us.
Paul uses the motifs of warriors and runners interchangeably in scripture, and for good reason.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run(A) with perseverance(B) the race marked out for us. [Heb. 12:1]
Warriors and runners have a lot in common.
Both are purposeful. Both understand perseverance. Both only carry what is essential for their quest.
Runners don’t wear any extra clothing. If they are going for a particularly long or arduous run, they may take a water bottle or some gels for a boost of energy. But whatever they bring, it’s small. Never anything excess.
Warriors also keep it simple. Some crucial weapons and not much else are all they carry. Like runners, warriors throw off the things that hinder them. May times i talk with men who don’t understand why they are having so much trouble; it seems every woman they see triggers their desire for porn or masturbation. They feel like “nothing is working” when they try to resist the temptation. And often, not always, but often, a closer examination of their lives shows that they make their own trouble by either being unprepared for the battle, or by outright providing an open door for sin. This is why some guys, myself included, go through a season of removing all media from their lives. It’s seems a drastic move, but it’s the way a warrior thinks and acts in order to defeat his enemy.
For intentional warriors who are fighting for purity and freedom, running with perseverance and throwing off what hinders us looks like this:
- Be Alive — you are in a real battle. pray through the Armor of God as Paul described it in Eph. 6:10-18.
- Be Alert — know that temptations will come to you from many angles, for example: the Mall, the Magazine rack and the Masses.
- Be All In — don’t go cruising near places that will likely cause you to stumble. All In means you are purposeful about purity.
Intentional Warriors 
One Response to “Warriors And Runners”
Nice post…God bless you.