Fight or Flight

The fight or flight response is a physiological reaction to an event that is causing stress or the feeling of being threatened. It’s a, wiring of the brain, so-to-speak. We get into a stressful or threatening situation and either throw our fists up or tuck tail and run. Some people experience this more than others. And, too often, this same thing bleeds into our walk with God. We experience spiritual warfare and we either try to fight it all on our strength or we just walk away from faith all together. It’s vital we do away with this mentality within our walk with God.

Chronicles 20:22
"And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed."   

I have used this scripture many times in talking about worshiping in the midst of warfare. I would encourage you to go in and read the whole chapter. Judah’s army stood outnumbered but clinching to a promise from God. The fight or flight mentality would normally kick in for a lot of people. They would get all hyped up on adrenalin and run into war ready to die or completely lose hope and quit. But, in this situation fighting or flighting was the wrong response. The right response is exactly what we see here and the point of this blog. They began to sing and praise!!!! I’ll be honest, as a worship leader this gives me chills. The worshipers were on the frontlines of battle knowing they had no, physical, weapons that would help them. They had a promise from God and an obedient heart. They were worshiping God for what had not yet happened. They had to trust Him and you know what? They did and God gave them victory and kept His promise. As He always does.

We are seeing this all over the place in this world. The fight or flight faith. How many people have walked away from Church because of fear and hopelessness? How many have just given up and…fled? On the other side, how many are exhausting themselves right now because they are trying to figure this whole thing out. Pastors are fighting to keep their attendance up and keep people happy. Leaders are stumped as to how to keep people engaged and find out why people have left the Church in large numbers. Sometimes, and what I mean by sometimes; I mean MOST OF THE TIME. The accurate response is to fall on our knees, lift our hands, and give it all to Him. We have to stop trying to fight on our own strength. Also, people need to CLING to the hope that Christ gives us. The fight or flight response won’t work.

The best way to fight in this war is on our knees. I love the song “Battle Belongs”. Us understanding that the battle belongs to God and the posture we need to keep is on our knees.

So when I fight I'll fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
And every fear I lay at Your feet
I'll sing through the night
Oh God, the battle belongs to You

I have a mental image when reading that line “I’ll sing through the night”. It’s dark and the enemy surrounds. The enemies teeth are sharp and ready to sink in. But, I am singing as loud and hard as I can to my God as I look to Him. Not even the threat of being overtaken shakes me. The louder the enemy growls the louder I sing and the higher I lift my hands. I remain on my knees though. Before my God who has the battle. You see, If I try and take it in my own strength I will be overtaken. But, and here is the question I want you to really ask…

Why are you clawing and scraping for something you’ve already been promised?

Victory

Being on our knees has a posture of complete and utter surrender and trust. It shows two things:

1. I am not going to fight this. I am giving this to You God. I will follow wherever You lead
2. I am standing firm in You. I will not flee. I will stand in the victory you have promised an praise you for the promises I have yet to see.

So, fight or flight. I say that is nonsense. You are surrounded? You feel the threat? Then fall on your knees and look to the one that has it all within His grip. Victory is ours. It has been promised. All we have to do is trust Him with it and praise Him in the process.

There are times God guides us to act and move. I believe that we are often the wheels within the move of God. Meaning, God uses us to MOVE. So, I am not saying we just sit on our butts and do NOTHING. I am just saying we take a posture of complete surrender and trust Him with it fully. And, as we do that we breathe and move wherever He leads. We pray what He prays. We say what he says. Being on our knees puts us in a posture that puts us completely codependent on Him.

So, when you fight; fight on your knees. Again, this puts you in a place where He will fight the battle and you will be firmly planted in Him. So, no fight and no flight. Just completely trust in the one who WILL fight. And as far as who will be fleeing?

James 4:7
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

The enemy isn’t scare of YOU. The enemy is scare of the SPIRIT that lives inside of you. So, when we are live on our knees; completely surrendered to Him. The enemy can’t touch us. So, in conclusion:

1. Stop trying this on your own. First, you have to be completely codependent on HIM. Second, you need your brothers and sisters in Christ. The Church body is vital in this walk with God. So, stop trying to do this on your own and on your own strength.
2. Take heart for He has already promised victory. He has already overcome the world.

John 16:33
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

So, in conclusion. Neither fight nor flight is the correct response. Kneel and surrender is the correct response. Then, from there, just follow where He leads.