Stand Firm, God Will Step In and Fight

A few years ago, I went back to college to earn my associates degree in nursing.  Before I could enter the nursing program, I had to complete the pre-requisites.  One of those was English comp 1101.  I am just saying, “I hated that class.”  I am absolutely stupid when it comes to grammar and compositions.  I’ll never forget the first day of class; the instructor asked me what genre was.  I was like “Huh? What? Who? Is this French class? Is genre a guy or a girl?” That was my thoughts what I said was “Ma’am, I am sorry, I have been out of college for nearly 20 years and I honestly do not know.   The teacher then proceeded to humiliate me because of my ignorance before the entire of the class.  She said something like this “Those of you who don’t not simple things like what genre is probably do not need to be in this class.”  I knew from that day forward there was going to be a battle that semester.

As the class went on, I learned what genre meant.  Throughout the class we read different genres of literature and journaled about what we had been reading.  Standing firm in my faith, I always related the material to my faith.  It was evident that my instructor was not very agreeable to my perspective on things.  At one point in the class, she introduced a genre that was rather risky in my opinion, basically it was pornographic. 

I felt convicted to not read the literature she had assigned to us.  Anyway, I went to class one afternoon and asked in front of the entire class if I could be assigned an alternative.  Our instructor mockingly asked me why I felt I needed an alternative.  I stated “Well ma’am, I am a Christian and I have four children at home.  I do not feel comfortable reading material that appears pornographic in genre.  It goes against my faith.  How do I explain to my children why I am reading material that directly goes against our core beliefs?”  Her reply “If you do not think you are mature enough to handle the assignment, then you will simply receive a zero for those assignments.  Basically you will fail this class.”  I stood my ground and stated “Well, I refuse to read the material and journal on this particular genre.  If you refuse to offer an alternative, then I guess I have to accept a zero. 

The next day, my English instructor proceeded to mock me before her much larger day class.  I guess she thought she might make herself look cool and make some Christian guy look like a fool.  I don’t know what she was thinking or what she was trying to prove.  However, I am glad she did what she did.  To my surprise, a number of students in her day class raised their hands and said that they agreed with my position and that they to were requesting an alternative genre to read and that they refused to continue with the assignments as planned. 

Long story short, I stood my ground.  I am so glad I did because it gave others the courage to take a stand for what they believed and together we got our alternative assignments.  That was not the end of the battle, but it was one of many victories that semester.  I’ll share another story tomorrow about this same instructor. 

Here is my point, as Christians we must stand our ground if we intend on winning any battle related to our faith.  When we stand our ground, God steps in and fights the battle for us, He never leaves us standing alone when we face any battle on His behalf. 

This is a picture I took of a Bull Elk
in Estes Park, Colorado.
You talk about standing firm in battle.
Bull Elk can be pretty bull headed
when they decide to stand their ground.

2 Chronicles 20:17

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' "

May my life be the proof and evidence of His love!