“Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle” (Psalm 144:1).

The Rock is a teacher; He is the LORD. He trains, builds up, and teaches. In the Psalm, He taught David's hands and fingers how to war and battle. Over time, the repetition and patience paid off. David’s hands were trained for war. His fingers knew what to do in battle.

This training from God is often lost on us. A quick fix is a mirage — we often know it — but we chase it. The quick victory. Immediately acquired skills. We want hands that can war and battle, but not the Rock’s training to get there. But this will never work. We must have the training of our Rock, our LORD, to have hands and fingers ready for war.

The enemy of our souls is ancient — and good at what he does. The war the church is in — to make disciples of all nations — is the greatest mission of all time. Our hands and fingers must be so trained that in the heat of the conflict we are able to grab our sword or bow or shield and instinctively fight.

The Lord must train us so that our very instincts undergo change. It cannot be that we tell our hands, “Alright, then. Step one is…then step two.” No, we must see the conflict, see the opportunity, and go. Our hands and fingers must do the thinking for us. Trained, instinctual, responsive.

Our Lord can provide this level of training to us. It takes time. We must allow Him the opportunity. Let Him teach you. Let Him train your hands for war. Let what was previously clunky and methodical and slow become swift and responsive and second-nature. Let the Rock take you to His school.