F.R.O.G

This is no afternoon athletic contest that we will walk away and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps. A life or death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angels. Be prepared, you are up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting, you’ll still be on your feet. Ephesians 6:12-13

This past week has been so terribly unbelieveable that it is almost impossible to put into words the emotions, the disbelief, and the anguish our country has experienced. A couple of months ago, a dear friend, Marion, used the acronym F.R.O.G in one of her writings. It stands for Fully Relying On God, and I can’t think of any better way for us to handle the tragedies of the past week.

The above scripture instructs Christians to put on the “full armor of God” to stand firm against the spiritual struggle, not with people, but rather against demonic powers like rulers and authorites in the heavenly realm.

It confuses me to read that scripture and yet be able to put a face to the person who has committed such unspeakable crimes. It is almost impossible to look beyond their faces and see the unseen enemy. It is what controls the person that is our true enemy. That’s when I repeat F.R.O.G. to myself, and I try to leave it in His hands.

When we Fully Rely On God, we trust His faithfulness and wisdom even in difficult times. Each time our nation faces a tragedy, it seems to enable each American no matter the differences, to turn to prayer, a moment of silence in remembrance, acknowledge a flag flown at half mast, and an acknowledgement of His power over our circumstances. We all bond together in Christian love and prayer, and in a few weeks, it is all forgotten.

Charlie Kirk was a deeply religious man, but also a man devoted to listening to the views, opinions, and beliefs of others even though they might be different from his own. He gained his inner peace, confidence, and endruance through His faith and recognition that God provides for all our needs through His unchanging and eternal nature. We must Fully Rely on God to deal with our confusion.

Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian immigrant, did nothing more than board a subway in Charlotte, NC, and she became the victim of a stabbing. She had survived in the Ukraine in a bomb shelter and made her way to Charlotte seeking nothing more than refuge and promise. Her only mistake was boarding a subway train. We remember to F.R.O.G.

As the unrest deepens and more social media sites stir up the political unrest in our country, our job is to be the voice of reason in an otherwise insane atmosphere. We are to Fully Rely On God.

Just like the young man, who instead of asking questions of Charlie Kirk, chose to climb up on a roof and with a single shot end a life, people are taking drastic measures when they disagree with others. As Christians, we have to be ready to defend our faith and political views in a way that mirrors Jesus while wearing “the full armor of Christ.”

In her remarks, Erika Kirk vowed to keep her husband’s legacy alive. She said, “If you think my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea what you have just unleashed across this entire country and this world.”

My prayer is that Christians can ignite an awakening that the battle is not physical, but spiritual, requiring divine power rather than worldly methods. Spiritual weapons such as prayer, the Bible, and relying on God’s strength are the things we need to win the battle.

We can be certain that Charlie Kirk is resting in the arms of his Savior. God bless the Kirk family.