May 18, 2026 — Isn’t it really about who or what wins the fight?

As Stan and I were enjoying our breakfast time together one morning, he mentioned that in his journaling time he’d been focusing on what the apostle Paul wrote about fighting the good fight. He asked me if I remembered that. 

“I think so,” I replied. “Isn’t that something he wrote in one of his letters to his friend Timothy?”

“That’s it,” Stan agreed. “Paul wrote that about himself near the end of his time on earth.”

“What,” I asked, “were you focusing on about that?”

“How,” Stan replied with a smile, “just fighting a good fight may not be enough.”

“Fighting a good fight may not be enough? Enough for what?”

“Keeping the faith,” Stan said. “Paul wrote that he had fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith.”

“So?”

“Just putting up a good fight doesn’t necessarily mean keeping the faith,” Stan said. “After all, don’t you think Satan puts up a good fight? Don’t you think addictions put up a good fight? Don’t you think the world and the flesh put up good fights? Don’t you think self puts up a good fight? Those fights are not about keeping the faith, but the exact opposite. Nevertheless, they certainly can be good fights!”

“So,” I replied, “the point is not about just putting up a good fight, it’s about keeping the faith. Is that it?”

“That, my friend, is what it looks like to me,” Stan replied. “It’s about more than just a good fight. Isn’t it really about who or what wins the fight?”

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Bible verses to consider:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while you keep me on this side of eternity I don’t fight the good fight to keep the faith. I don’t fight against Satan. I don’t fight against the world and the flesh. I don’t fight against self. Please forgive the foolishness of not fighting to keep the faith of the new life you’ve given. Help me follow every step of your lead in not only fighting the good fights you have for me to fight, but in winning those fights and keeping the faith. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Have you claimed Jesus’ victory on the cross and have life eternally with God, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with keeping the faith? How about fighting the good fights? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Mathew 6:8), what does He  know you need to not only fight the good fights, but to keep the faith? Spend time on this studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?