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Battle Scars: Dedicated to the Matured in Christ
- thelightinmeent
- 1 hour ago
- 8 min read
When you decided to follow Jesus and to walk with Him in the light of His Word along life’s narrow way, you entered into spiritual warfare with satanic forces of darkness. When the Lord affirmed in Matthew 22:14 that “Many are called, but few are chosen,” He was stating that many will hear the gospel, many will perceive that Jesus is real, but the ones who come to Him make an intentional choice to follow Him and to walk with Him all the days of their lives. It is a mystery how for whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, . . . , moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified (Romans 8:29-30); having predestined us to adoption as sons [and daughters] by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:5).
How awesome is the journey of life the chosen walk through! The chosen walk through the valley of the shadow of death to learn how not to fear darkness (Psalm 23:4). The chosen walk on the narrow way which is difficult and often lonely because few find it, so that they trust in God for everything (Matthew 7:14). The chosen are led by way of the wilderness to be refined into vessels of light, sharpened into victorious warriors who overcome darkness (Exodus 13:17-18; John 1:5).
In 1678, while locked up in prison for preaching the gospel, John Bunyan wrote a most prolific (prophetic) book entitled The Pilgrim’s Progress, now a famous Christian allegory which tracks a man named Christian on a symbolic journey from his home, the City of Destruction (sinful state of man), to the heavenly Celestial City, representing the trials of the faithful life walking on the narrow way. Christian carries the burden of sin as he recognizes the value of the Cross. He meets various temptations and falls into snares of the fowlers (enemy trappings) who try to push him off the narrow way. On this lifetime journey in which he is refined by his mistakes, his beatings, his bruises and battle scars, he finally matures into a victorious warrior for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and enters the Celestial City.
The Pilgrim is the Christian, whose home is not of this world, but rather he or she is passing through this “valley of the shadow of death” being trained as a warrior “along the narrow way,” and set apart “in the wilderness” gaining warfare experience until he or she emerges as a victorious matured Christian.
Remember that Lucifer, an angel of Light, was overcome by his own dark thoughts and was able to convince one-third of the other angels in heaven to rebel against God, his own Creator, his own Father. The battle in heaven was fierce; but behold, Archangel Michael and the other two-thirds angels with him cast Lucifer, the Devil, Satan, to the earth with his angels. And these demonic forces dwell on earth with the chosen to derail them off the narrow way which leads to eternal life onto their way—the broad way which leads to eternal death, hellfire (Revelation 12:4-9; Matthew 7:13). And if heavenly angels were warriors in the battle against satanic forces, how much more do heavenbound sons of men, Christians, have to be spiritual victors on earth!
Matured Christian, walking the narrow way can be exhausting, draining away your internal fire for worshiping the Lord. You meet betrayal, sickness, disappointment, and unfair treatment not only by unbelievers but by the very people closest to you and even in the church. The struggle to bear the Fruit of the Spirit weighs heavy on your heart; and at times you can’t open your mouth to utter a prayer to your Abba Father because depression’s darkness overwhelms you. The feeling of weariness, of tiredness, and pain consume your spirit, soul, and body until at times you feel like breaking down and quitting the walk with Jesus.
Recall the “Joshua generation.” Joshua was part of the children who survived the wilderness experience when their fathers and mothers of Israel escaped the Egyptians. They walked decades through the wilderness headed toward the land God had promised them filled with milk and honey and every good blessing. The parents of Joshua’s generation were destroyed in the wilderness due to their rebellious unbelief and disobedience to the way of God. Eventually, it was Joshua who led his people into the Promised Land. But they were tired, weary from the training and experience of warfare during their 40-year’s journey. In the Promised Land, Joshua’s generation quit the warfare and enjoyed the pleasures of idle resting. They failed to flame the fire of worship to the Lord God and train their children in spiritual warfare: When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel (Judges 2:10).
Matured Christian, though the battle is fiercer today than ever to derail your soul and consequently your children’s souls off the way of the Lord, DO NOT QUIT! The Lord promises, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all the things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). Making disciples, especially in your children, is your purpose along your life’s narrow way. You are to bring more sojourners (born-again Christians) along with you as you travel through the “valley” and in the “wilderness” heading toward your Promised Land, the Celestial City.
When you grow weary, God can use your converts and His angels to bear you up (Psalm 91:11-12). When you grow frustrated, disappointed, or weak, God promises to uphold you by His own righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10). When you feel lonely and afraid, make the Lord’s rod and staff be your comfort (Psalm 23:4).
After the “Joshua generation” died and were buried, the generation after them did greater evil and detestable works in the Lord’s sight by following the gods of the nations that were not driven out of the Promised Land. These nations were left in the land so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it (Judges 3:2).
Matured Christians who wear the battle scars of the narrow way, we must TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO KNOW WAR or they shall surely serve the gods of social media: illuminati, jezebel, pornia, betting and gambling, and drug usage which are increasing the consequences of teen-pregnancies and abortions, lewdness/nakedness, stealing and lust for money, homosexuality, and constant intoxication—sins which are becoming back-breaking burdens cracking the foundation of Christian society and family life.
Your support for this year’s SWEET JESUS TEN-TO-TEEN CHRISTIAN CAMP can be a means to enable you to help teach Christian children to know war through our Camp Programming. An appeal for sponsorship and donations for children and teens who can’t afford the fee and for Camp Materials needed to disciple them is going out to you, Matured Christian:
1. Discipleship Instruction Manual for every teen child and their Mentor-Teacher (USD 5,000).
2. Materials for the School of Etiquette CPD-Accredited Course for Adolescents (USD 3,000).
3. Sponsorship per child/teen to participate (USD 20).
Any amount you send is a blessing to every camper. As the Camp runs from 2nd – 8th August, 2026, a Camp’26 report and video shall be made for viewing the results of your giving by the end of August 2026.
The battle scars of a matured Christian are not a sign of shame, but rather a badge of honour signifying your triumph towards the Celestial City, the evidence of your faith. Let’s not be afraid to train our children to wear them, too.
© 2023, 2026 by Patience Osei-Anyamesem. All rights reserved. Published by The Light In Me Enterprise. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews or other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are from The New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The artwork depicted in the blog article is carefully selected to draw out the points made for healing of the soul, and by no means promote any ideologies from the various artists unless they are found in the center of God's perfect will.
Pastor Patience is, by profession, an Instructional Design & Training Consultant and, as a trained classroom teacher, has taught young people and older people over the course of 30 years the subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and Computing, and Etiquette as the first Headmistress of Global Village Christian Academy Int'l School in Ashanti Region; and, prior to that, served as the first Headmistress of Victory Academy International School in Eastern Region, both founded by her late father, Rev. Peter Osei-Anyamesem.
As such, throughout her career and in her current role as a Children’s Ministry Regional Director in Assemblies of God, Ghana, she has trained approximately 1,000 Mentor-Teachers in the CPD Standards Office (United Kingdom) Accredited Course Models of Learning. She is author of Multiplying Our Children's Church with “Real Talk” Models of Learning: Application of Wholistic Christ-Centered Education for the Home, School and Church; of the internet blog you are now reading, Take My Hand Inspirations: Conversations with the Soul; and the biannual editions of “Real Talk” Teaching Tract Curriculum Series for the training, development, and welfare of children and teens.
Patience Osei-Anyamesem has also authored “My Cup Overflows” storybook collection and a repertoire of children's plays including The Power of Purity, Christ-the Light of the World, and award-winners: So Eat Mama's Banku and Okra Stew! and Send Your Girl-child to School.
As part of her children and teen literacy up-skill campaign, she designed, published, and trains the Teach Me English! Language Pedagogy and Curriculum for home, private, and public schools.
Explore the store and see her works. You can DONATE to the design and creation and/or publication of these products and services and PURCHASE the materials to enhance the lives of young people and their mentor-teachers.
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LET NO WEAPON destroy the work of the Lord. God bless you.📖
Pastor Patience is available for helping you reach out and positively touch the lives of children and teens in your homes, schools, and churches through speaking engagements, teen summits, seminars/symposia, and camps. Stay posted for activities and events for participation of your children and teens! You can contact her by clicking on the comments bubble and texting your request. Let’s put on our Armor of God and train up spiritual warfare conquerers as we build our godly legacy for future godly generations!
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