Chin wrestling

As far as I know, my mom is the undefeated chin-wrestling champion of the world! If you're not familiar with chin-wrestling, the rules are simple. The opponents start chin to chin and then wrestle to see who can move their chin down into the ticklish part of their opponent's neck until they cry for mercy! 

Most of these matches occurred between Mom and young children, many of whom enjoyed it, even though they lose. I've been on the losing end of numerous matches as a youngster and the only moments I enjoyed was when my cries of mercy ended the ordeal! 

My most embarrassing loss happened when I was a teenager. I came home with a new friend and as I gave Mom a hug, she started an unexpected chin wrestle! Soon I was laughing so hard I was incapacitated. Mom then greeted my friend and said, "Hi, I'm Tim's mom!"

The Bible has a lot to say about wrestling. As much there is peace and joy in the Christian life, there is also a lot of wrestling. The most famous wrestling match was between Jacob and "a man" whom many Bible scholars identify as Jesus. 

So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Genesis 32:24–28

The name "Israel" means, “one who struggles with God.” It is an appropriate name for a nation that was constantly rebelling and disobeying God. 

There is a lot of struggling in the Christian life, but hopefully this is not struggling with God but struggling for God. It's important to be aware that we struggle against the devil and unseen forces. 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

Fortunately, God equips us to be successful in this struggle. 

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:13–18

Our two offensive weapons are the word of God and prayer. So, it's crucial to know the God's word well and be committed to much prayer. God's word is powerful, and the prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective. 

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3–5

Paul acknowledged the power of prayer to help in his struggles.

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Romans 15:30

Please take your responsibility seriously to "fight the good fight" because the devil is like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. And that someone is most likely a person who is not equipped and not alert to the danger.

And be thankful that God is on our side and promises to give us the victory.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57