Memorial Day

 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:11b-13

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
Hebrews 11:32-38

 1 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 with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3

We are at war. Wars between nations begin and end, but there is an invisible war raging, and it will continue to rage until our Messiah, Jesus, Yeshua ben David, returns, not as a docile lamb, but as the Vanquisher, conquering the enemy of our souls, and evil, sin, death are done away with. Many have gone before us, believing in something greater than themselves, believed and obeyed the Lord... many have paid the ultimate sacrifice, in both our physical wars , and the greater war. These men and women were ordinary people, but heeded the call, stepped out of comfort zones, accomplished extraordinary things. Courage under fire, uncommon valor, bravery in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds and adversity are not natural human traits; but it is God that enables our "arms to bend a bow of bronze and strengthens our hands for battle". Remember and honor our soldiers, and our spiritual heroes, who have protected us, vanquished the enemy, stood in the gap for us. Take heart, do not grow weary, remember and honor those worthy of honor, and put on your armor daily.
We will have the victory!