“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”                 II Corinthians 10:3-5. (NIV)

As a very young child my son occupied a good bit of his time playing with a variety of action figures. GI Joe (a hand me down from his dad’s childhood), Small Soldiers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Street Sharks, and the Red Power Ranger all come to mind. When he wasn’t creating adventures for his action figures he and his friends were dressing as superheroes and maintaining order in the neighborhood. 

While playing, I could hear the situations my son created for his characters – Good vs. Evil. I can remember hearing his sweet, small voice exclaiming, “Choose your weapon!” and I knew a battle was about to ensue. This phrase carried over to superhero neighborhood play as well. 

I will go out on a limb here and guess many of us had these same experiences as children. Viewing our childhood battles (real and imaginary) as Good vs. Evil and easily settling a conflict with “Choose your weapon.” I did. My brother and I worked through our Barbie and GI Joe situations and our own differences this way – including thumb wrestling, pinecone battles, and the occasional full on wrestling match. 

I would love to say all this – the conflict – goes away as we become adults. However, that is not the case. Just as dueling started in the Middle Ages as a way to settle disputes, defend one’s honor, prove leadership, or end a quarrel, conflict always begins the same – two people, witnesses, and a choice. Choose your weapon.

True – Dueling died out in the US in the 1870s; however, the need to settle conflict never goes away. Daily we are faced with some type of conflict and a choice – sometimes more than once a day. Choose your weapon. 

As the scripture reminds us, even though we live in this world we do not or should not wage war as the world does. 

Someone speaks unkindly to you – Choose your weapon. 

Someone cuts you off in traffic or in line – Choose your weapon. 

You are hurt, physically or emotionally by others – Choose your weapon. 

You are treated unfairly or offended – Choose your weapon. 

Yes, Choose Your Weapon: revenge or kindness, retaliation or grace. Take it into your own hands or place it in the hands of God. 

We are charged with being obedient to God whose weapons can demolish any stronghold. God’s weapons are the right choice in any battle. Battles within the world and within ourselves. 

Dealing with addiction – Choose your weapon.

Financial struggles – Choose your weapon. 

Feeling depressed, dejected, disappointed – Choose your weapon. 

Again, Choose your weapon: self-pity or self-improvement, self-destruction or self-care. Battle your own demons with worldly weapons that perpetuate self-defeat or cause self-harm, or allow God to battle on your behalf. 

Whatever you are dealing with daily, short-term or long-term, remember there is only one Divine Power that breaks every stronghold and resolves every conflict for your good. 

Choose your weapon. God wins every time.