My prayer is not the whimpering of a beggar nor a confession of love. Nor is it a trivial reckoning of a small tradesman: Give me and I shall give you. My prayer is the report of a soldier to his general: This is what I did today, this is how I fought to save the entire battle in my own sector, these are the obstacles I found, this is how I plan to fight tomorrow.

My God and I are horsemen galloping in the burning sun or under drizzling rain. Pale, starving, but unsubdued, we ride and we converse. “Leader!” I cry. He turns his face toward me, and I shudder to confront his anguish.

Our love for each other is rough and ready, we sit at the same table, we drink the same wine in this low tavern of life.

—Nikos Kazantzakis, The Saviors of God: Spiritual Exercises

I used to balk at militaristic language used to describe the Christian life. No more. That was because I failed to see that living a Christian life is a struggle and certainly impossible without God’s help. There are so many things at war with us: our fallen nature, the presence of an active Evil in this world, those actively opposed to Christianity and any who call themselves Christian.

Did you notice the stark terms Kazantzakis uses to describe his intimate relationship with God? Did you also notice that without that relationship, Kazantzakis infers that his would be a hopeless lot? He understands who is the general and who is the soldier. He knows the Source of his power to wage war against evil and brokenness. He gets it.

Living faithful Christian lives is difficult and a struggle. Many shy away from it because of this fact. But it has been suggested that God promises great rewards later for those willing to struggle first; whereas the Evil One promises great rewards now, only to be followed by ruination afterward. I choose to trust in God’s promise and faithfulness because I have seen it in the history of his people and in my own life. What about you?