Following God into the Cage

Following God

Into the Cage

A 40-Day Devotional Journey

Alisa Hope Wagner

Introduction

If there were ever a boot camp for life, filming a reality television show would qualify. I found myself in the middle a reality TV show after our pastor mentioned that one would be holding tryouts at our church. I was transformed from a “writer” into a “MMA fighter,” and I learned a lot about who I was in Christ during those two grueling months of training and filming.

I wrote a 40-day devotional about following God into the cage. I literally had to follow Him in obedience because there were many times I just wanted to run away. The dynamic of learning something new and having it filmed was interesting to say the least. I forced my faith to grow in a crazy situation that was unfamiliar and uncomfortable to me. But my faith did grow, and my relationship with God was transformed in the process!

Join me on my journey. I promise you won’t have to “eat” punches, rush to the ER or spend sixty minutes in a sauna, but I think your faith will stretch along with mine. There’s something supernatural about hearing the “word of their testimony” in Christ. We are strengthened to confront the challenges that God has placed before us when we see others face difficulty and find victory.

I believe that if I can walk into a cage fight, you can overcome any obstacle that stands in your way. Just give God your obedience, and He will give you His victory.

“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Revelations 12.11 NIV) (emphasis added).

* Watch the Following God into the Cage Book Trailer at Alisa Hope Wagner’s YouTube Channel along with her other videos.

Other books in the series: Following God onto the Stage and Following God across the Page.

Dedication

God, my Creator, my Savior, my Counselor

Daniel, my high school sweetheart and soul mate

Isaac, my firstborn son

Levi, my brown-eyed boy

Karis Ruth, my cherished girl

Christina, my twin and friend.

Thank you to Patti Coughlin and Faith Newton for your edits and to “sPidA” Garay for the author and cover photos.

Table of Contents

Day 1: Wheat and Weeds. 11

Day 2: Encourage Yourself 13

Day 3: Sacred Intimacy. 15

Day 4: Broken-down Potential 17

Day 5: Hope Deferred. 19

Day 6: Power of Obedience. 21

Day 7: Process of Change. 23

Day 8: Spiritual Storms. 25

Day 9: Support of Many. 27

Day 10: Five Minutes. 29

Day 11: The Meek. 31

Day 12: Back to Training. 33

Day 13: Light at the Gym... 35

Day 14: Breath of God. 37

Day 15: Adrenaline Rush. 39

Day 16: Overlapping Levels. 41

Day 17: Roll with the Punches. 43

Day 18: Those Crazy Prophets. 45

Day 19: Weight of our Best. 47

Day 20: Ministry of the Home. 49

Day 21: The Good Fight 51

Day 22: Voice of the Enemy. 53

Day 23: Power of the Tongue. 55

Day 24: A Valued People. 57

Day 25: Post of Faith. 59

Day 26: Unseen Greatness. 61

Day 27: Flawed but Confident. 63

Day 28: Motivating Others. 65

Day 29: The Faithful Grind. 67

Day 30: Kingdom Gain. 69

Day 31: God Connections. 71

Day 32: Deer Feet 73

Day 33: My Twin, the Body. 75

Day 34: Missing Family. 77

Day 35: Talking about God. 79

Day 36: Crops Don’t Disappear. 81

Day 37: Stored Up Memories. 83

Day 38: A Warrior. 85

Day 39: The Glory of Crushing. 87

Day 40: Why Jesus?. 89

Day 1: Wheat and Weeds

“When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew” (Matthew 13.26 NLT).

When I watched my reality TV show for the first time, I was so embarrassed. The fact is that I’m not perfect, and several of my flaws were on display. I fumed over my obvious mistakes and even called several of the producers. I said some things out of my insecurity, and I begged them to change some scenes or at least let me give explanations. Of course, nothing can be done once a project is finalized, so I cried out to God. Why would He lead me into a direction just to showcase my weakness? Was I so far gone that He needed to humble me in front of everyone?

Finally, God got my attention with one question: “What is more powerful? Your mistakes or my grace?” I realized that I had been committing idolatry. I put more emphasis on my mistakes than on God’s sovereign authority. We are all sinners, and everything we create for God will have flaws, but those flaws will not stop God from establishing His glory. In fact, God can easily display His power in our weakness.

Jesus used the parable of the wheat and the weeds to illustrate that we will always find some things that we don’t like about a person, a ministry, a job, a book, a school, a family, etc. However, that doesn’t mean we should discredit all the wheat (virtue) because of a few weeds (flaws). When God gave me this truth, I fell in love with my show. I can see God’s glory all over it, and my little mistakes now seem so insignificant.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12.9 NIV).

God, help me to realize that my mistakes are no match for your grace. I will never be perfect, but my flaws will not hinder me from walking out on faith for You. I’m determined not to judge others by their weaknesses; instead, I want to focus on the harvest of goodness that You are growing in them. I know that when I keep my eyes on You, the glory produced will outweigh all of my mess-ups. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions

1) Have you ever harvested something beautiful for the Lord only to realize there were a few weeds in your crop?

2) Does knowing that no person or ministry will be perfect help you to offer mercy and grace more freely?

3) By faith, will you recognize that Jesus makes all of our works pleasing to God when they are done in obedience?

Don’t let the weeds stop you from growing the wheat!

Day 2: Encourage Yourself

“David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30.6 AMP).

When I trained for Mix Martial Arts, I had several trainers pour their hearts and talents into me. Having multiple teachers helped me to learn fast, but that quick growth came at a high cost. I had major growing pains for two months. I was overwhelmed, exhausted and changing physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually every single day! Not only is MMA Cage Fighting one of the hardest sports in existence, it was also completely foreign to me. I was starting from ground zero, trying to get into fighting condition in eight weeks.

At nights I wouldn’t take any Aspirin because I had to take them to get through my two daily training sessions. I would lie awake in bed with a heating pad on my neck (where I pulled all my muscles) and an ice pack on my chest (where I had chest contusions), and I would cry out in pain because everything hurt. I could barely move, and I still had dozens of training and sparring sessions left to go. All I could do during those long nights was encourage myself in the Lord.

I’d tell myself over and over again that God had a plan for this craziness, and that it would all be over soon. I’d remind myself that God would not allow me to go through anything that He did not think I could handle. Trusting that God had a purpose for my pain made it easier to bear, and I firmly believed that He would use it to shine His glory. I found strength in God when I reached my limit, and I forced myself to stretch beyond my current capacity. As I look back, those nights are now some of my sweetest memories. I clung tightly to God, and He helped me to push through and reach my victory.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8.37 NIV).

God, thank You for getting me through those difficult nights and bringing me closer into relationship with You. I praise You for teaching me how to encourage and strengthen myself in You. God, You helped me accomplish the challenge that You set before me, and my faith in You has grown stronger and deeper. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions

1) Have you ever had to encourage yourself in the promises that God has given you?

2) Do you rely too much on the words of affirmation from others and less on the truth God has given you?

3) Will you learn the discipline of finding encouragement in God alone, especially when you feel defeated?

Claim the victory that God has for you today!

Day 3: Sacred Intimacy

“When the priests enter them, they shall not go out of the holy chamber into the outer court; but there they shall leave their garments in which they minister, for they are holy. They shall put on other garments; then they may approach that which is for the people” (Ezekiel 42.14 NKJV).

I talk about God a lot; and when I was filming the reality TV show, He was apparent in my thoughts, actions and words. I find satisfaction in mulling over His character, His movements and His Word, and I can’t help but mention everything He’s showing me. Yes, the trainers and producers thought I was a little weird, but I enjoyed discussing my spirituality.

I say this because when I saw the show for the first time, I noticed that only a few of my God-nods made it into the final cut. (And to be honest, a ton of stuff had to be cut because there just wasn’t enough space). At first I felt guilty, and I worried that the audience wouldn’t see enough of God in my life; but God really reaffirmed me in His Word. I read that the priests needed to change out of the clothes they wore to minister (serve) God in the Holy Sanctuary before they entered into the courtyard where the people were.

We all have our Holy place with God, and our intimacy might confuse, disturb or even hurt others. Non-Christians may think we’re complete lunatics if they don’t know us personally, and other Christians may feel like they need to force their intimacy with God to resemble ours.

When Jesus revealed His perfect intimacy with God in His transfiguration, He was only around His three closest friends (Mark 9.2). I shouldn’t feel like I need to reveal the intimate aspects of my relationship with Christ to the masses. I must trust that my walk of faith will bear evidence of my close relationship with Him, and that the life I lead will cause people to notice a difference. Once people see my strength in Christ, I can be ready for when the Holy Spirit opens the door for me to offer a glimpse of my own transformation into His image.

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” (2 Corinthians 3.18 NLT).

God, I don’t want to pile on guilt about not revealing enough of You. You have my heart, and I’m relieved to know that the bulk of my intimacy with You is special and private. I know that You are totally capable of establishing Your own glory, and I’m honored that You desire a personal, intimate relationship with me. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions

1) Does our intimacy with the Lord confuse people who are close to you?

2) How can you share some of your intimacy with God without making others feel uncomfortable or inferior?

3) Tell of a time that the Holy Spirit lead you to share a personal story about how God showed His love and care in your life.

Your relationship with Jesus will overflow onto others!

Day 4: Broken-down Potential

“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds. In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence” (Hosea 6.1-2 NLT).

When I trained for my MMA fight, I sparred with several different women. Sparring is extremely important because it prepares you for the cage. However, sparring hurts. One woman I sparred threw me against the cage, forcing her shoulder – and all of her body weight – into my chest. I felt my sternum crunch, so I took a visit to the E.R. Another woman hit my nose, causing it to swell and bruise, and every additional punch to my face felt like a hammer. And another woman put me into so many arm bars that I thought my arm would fall off.

After each injury, my sparring partners would give me a hug and say, “Good job.” They didn’t feel guilty about the pain they inflicted on me because they knew that they were helping me find my victory. Sounds strange, doesn’t it? But they were breaking me down, so I could become stronger. By the time I entered the cage, my injuries were healed (for the most part), and I was strong. After a minute and nine seconds, I won my fight by TKO (Technical Knock Out). I gave my opponent a hug, and said, “God will break you down, but I promise He will build you back up again.”

God needs to unleash the amazing potential in each of us, and He can only do it when we are broken and surrendered to Him. Sometimes God will use situations to break us, but other times He will use people. I used to struggle when God wanted to use me as a tool to break someone down, but now I am filled with the understanding that if their hearts are open to Him, He will build them back up even stronger and wiser than before.

Although I’m not going to actively seek out being God’s breaking instrument, I won’t shy away from it either. I want all of God’s children to reach their potential in Christ, and I know that He is fully capable of healing and strengthening those whose eyes are focused on Him.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5.11 NIV).

God, please help me not be offended when others are used to break me. Whether they are aware of it or not, they are a tool to build my faith and bring me closer to You. Also, help me to be used to sharpen others with confidence and grace. I care more about them becoming like You than about them having comfortable, painless lives. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions

1) Do you have trouble humbling yourself to others?

2) Did you know that God may use people to shape and mold you?

3) Can you think of a time that someone tried to break you, but God used that experience to make you stronger in Him?

God will tear you down to make you stronger!