Back in the day, in you were in a quarrel with someone and you said ‘your mama’ you were in danger of getting your teeth knocked out. Those were considered fighting words, and it didn’t matter if that person knew their mama or not. If you uttered those words you were asking for it.
Check out these fighting words from scripture:
David’s fighting words to Goliath: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17:45-47 NIV).
Jonathan’s fighting words as he prepared to attack the Philistine outpost: “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6 NIV).
Nehemiah, never had to engage in battle, but he was ready with his fighting words “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes” (Nehemiah 4:14 NIV).
What are your fighting words? Can I help you find some? “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, They stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident” (Psalm 27:1-3 KJV). Use your fighting words or get you a fight song.
My mother is deceased now. She wasn’t as familiar with the scriptures as some of us are, but every now and then, when the battle drew her in, she would draw out a fight song. She would reach back, for an old hymn, and she would draw strength from the hymns and she would sing them and let her spirit soar. Many years, many years before she passed, she had handpicked some of her favorite songs for her funeral, and one of them went like this: As I journey through the land, singing as I go. Pointing souls to Calvary to the crimson flow. Many arrows pierce my soul from without, within; But my Lord leads me on, through Him I must win.
I saw her took some hard knocks in her lifetime, but she fought back with everything she had. Some of the things she endured would have knocked many off their feet, but no, she refused to go down without a fight. She fought back like someone who was determined to win.
Get you a fight song, a fight praise, or some fighting words. Get your fight back. Fight back against discouragement and depression. Fight back against anxiety and worry. Fight back against fear. Fight back against hatred and discrimination. Fight back against anything that limits you to be mediocre. Fight back. Fight back. Remember that the battle is the Lord's. Fight back.