Even when I was home, I was consumed with work. While I thought I was doing a pretty good job of playing the action hero/tough guy, inside I was crashing. I felt lonely, stressed, depressed, and those who knew me best would later tell me they could see a shortness in my temper.
Finally, while the squadron was away from home again on a training detachment and received the word that we were going to war again, I began to recognize that I was losing altitude fast. I literally fell to my knees and asked the Lord, “God, I need you in my life, what do I need to do to save myself?” The answer He gave me was to reengage my spiritual life and get back into the fight. It was time to apply many of the things I had learned flying jets to my faith.
For example, I had to apply flight control corrections. To stop my descent, I had to take action and pull out of my dive. I had to actively accept and pursue a personal relationship with Christ
I had to check my instruments. In the jet, if you’re out of control and only focus outside the cockpit, you fail to recognize what’s really happening. During these times, you have to get inside the cockpit and focus on your instruments. The instruments don’t lie, they give a true reading of our attitude and altitude. They let us see where we’re at and where we need to be. In my spiritual life, the instrument is God’s Word. I need to listen and apply God’s Word in my life and get into God’s Word through daily devotions as Chaplain Mike shared.
I had to find my wingmen. In military aviation, the wingman is special. We trust our wingman with our life and he trusts us with his. In a time of crisis, he provides support from a detached but understanding point of view. At the same time we support him. Every one of us need to fly through life with wingmen who we can connect with, who are in the same stage of life someone to provide understanding and mutual support.
Please use the instrument of the Scriptures, Your Word, to give me a true reading of where I’m at and where I need to be spiritually. And please bring another wingman into my life, who will provide understanding and support through life’s ups and downs.
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20–21)