Self Defense is the ability to defend yourself. When you think about this you begin to realize the true essence of self defense as a way of living. It is not about fighting. It's about learning to protect yourself. Sure, learning to fight can be part of that but the picture is much bigger. Having to protect myself from a bully or stranger may happen once or if im lucky twice in my life. Unless I am looking for it or just have no common sense, I don't think fighting is to big of an issue. Of course, if the time did come and I had to defend myself against an attacker I would want to know how. The bigger picture, however, has to deal with the problems we face every single day. If I am learning to protect myself then I have to understand that I am more than just a physical body. I need to protect my mind and spirit as well.
If we stick with the body for a moment, we can see there are still many other ways to protect ourselves physically. For instance, what we eat is a huge part of self defense. Are you protecting your body or destroying it? The thing about eating is that you can't see the damage immediatly like you can a punch to the face. But slowly certain foods will effect your body in many negative ways. The quickest ways would be just how your food effects your energy level through out the day. If you do train or work out hard, you know you need to pay attention to how you eat. Another way to protect our body is just to have a common awareness or focus. It is easy to be distracted and trip or bump into things. I know this is no big deal most of the time but for the same reason you bump your toe on the corner of the coffee table, other people bump their car into a tree. Focus and awareness are very important. You know the old shop class rule "Safety First", well it's true. That is self defense.
Let's talk about the mind a little bit. How can we defend our minds. This is a very big deal. Our minds control our actions. We need to learn to protect ours minds and keep them pure. What you hear and see effects what you think and speak. What you watch on T.V. and what you listen to on the radio or CD player effects your behavior. Listening to violent music is like a slow brain washing tool. You get these songs stuck in your head and they play over and over again and you think I would never do these things, but I like the music. Well you may not do those things but you support them. You do things that are similair. You think about those things and begin to resort to those things as a way to fix whatever is wrong at the moment by listening to them and singing them. That is just one example but there are many. We need to defend our minds. Listen and watch positive things. Talk to positive people and practice positive behavior. It changes the way you feel. The apostle Paul who was a persecuter of the Christian church and murdered many Christians became a one of the most well known Christians in the new testement. He wrote more letters than anyone in the new testement. He wrote in
Phillippians 4:8-9
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. The things which you learned and recieved and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."
That scripture is a mental and spiritual truth. He was saying look at me. Look at how God has changed my life. I have gone from a muderer of Christians for the sake of god to an advid Christ follower and bold disciple of Christ knowing the cost. Meditate on these things and you will see the grace and mercy and power of the living God. And the peace of God will be with you.
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Phillippians 4:6-7
Christ has made us free. FREE! It is true, 100% FREE. John 8:33 says
"If the Son makes you free, you are free indeed."
Now lets see how Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 6:12
"All things are lawfull for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawfull for me but I will not be brought under the power of any."
He is saying I am a free man. I have been saved by grace not by my works. (which is evident in Pauls life) I am free to do as I wish but to every action there is a reaction. There are consequenses and not all things are helpful. Nor will I be brought under the power of anything other than God. I am free but I must protect myself! Spiritual defense is not about good and bad but about faith in the Saviour, Jesus Christ. He is my sheild and my breastplate.
Self Defense is defending yourself, body, mind and spirit.
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