We’re back from Elk Camp and before we dive in today I wanted to shout out my son Clay for a great shot and a freezer full of meat!
Clay’s first ever elk taken in Payson, Arizona
Now for the content.
I’ve always wanted things to move faster. In business. In faith. In life.
It’s in my nature to see the vision and want to get there yesterday. But over the years, I’ve learned something important. God rarely gives you the whole plan up front. He gives you the next step, then teaches you to trust Him with the rest.
He prepares your heart for what’s ahead.
That’s what this week is all about, being Built Before the Battle.
When we talk about igniting the fire in our lives, we’re talking about waking up to what really matters. Faith. Family. Purpose. Those things require more than passion. They require preparation.
God doesn’t just hand us a mission and tell us to go figure it out. He shapes us through the process, slowly and intentionally, so that when the time comes, our hearts are ready to handle the weight of what He is calling us to do.
We want the breakthrough, the visibility, the win. But God always starts with the foundation. He builds the man before He builds the mission.
A season that feels uncertain or unfinished isn’t wasted. Those are often the moments when God is teaching us to rely on Him so He can make our path straight.
The preparation season
Moses was tending sheep when God called to him from the burning bush.
David was sent by his father to bring food to his brothers, and in that ordinary obedience God opened the door to a moment that changed Israel’s story.
Peter and Andrew were fishing when Jesus said, Follow Me, and they laid down their nets.
They were not chasing opportunity. They were being faithful where they were. That is often where God does His best preparation work.
Faithfulness in your everyday life is what prepares you for the weight of greater responsibility.
And as a man, this is a good thing to desire.
When you prove steady in the ordinary, God can trust you with the significant. He is not looking for perfection. He is looking for consistency.
God prepares you in private so He can trust you in public.
I’ve been through the season where I didn’t have a strong faith.
I remember what it was like to chase identity in my work instead of finding it in who God says I am. Back then I thought achievement would bring peace, but it never did. What I didn’t understand was that faith has to be part of your ethos. It has to be woven into who you are as a man.
That’s why this idea of being Built Before the Battle matters so much to me now.
For me today the battle looks different. It’s not about trying to believe. It’s about building on what’s already been built. I have faith and each day how to apply it to my life becomes clearer. That’s what growth looks like—learning how to apply God’s Word to real decisions, real conversations, real leadership moments.
You might be in a different spot, and that’s okay. We each have our own battles to fight and journey to embark. The point is that you are showing up purposeful each and ever day.
And life doesn’t slow down while you do it.
The pace is still fast. The challenges still come. But the stronger your foundation, the more confident you become in how to respond.
Stop reacting and start leading.
The Framework for this week is what I’ve called the Core Growth Four.
Patience is learning to trust God’s timing when you’d rather fix everything yourself. It’s realizing that waiting doesn’t mean weakness.
Preparation is about daily habits—the kind that start your day with God and end your day reflecting on His faithfulness. Joshua 1:8 says, “Meditate on this word day and night.” It’s an all-day, everyday rhythm.
Practice is living your faith out loud in a safe way—setting healthy boundaries, showing consistency, learning to say no and still love people well. The military runs drill after drill before they ever step onto a battlefield. We do the same through repetition and obedience.
Presence is experiencing God every day. It’s praying without ceasing, rejoicing always, and remembering that His presence is not an event—it’s a lifestyle.
Those four areas are how we activate our faith. They keep the fire alive and keep us ready for whatever comes next.
Because the battle never really stops. It just changes form.
And as long as your faith stays active, you’ll keep standing strong.
Action Steps
Take a few minutes this week to look at your own foundation and score these 1 being lots of work needed and 10 being perfect:
Where would you score your Faith foundation?
Are you reacting (1) or leading (10) more?
Are you the type of leader you would want to work under?
Are you starting and ending each day with intention?
Rate your Patience, Preparation, Practice and Presence (1-10 for each).
Scoring Evaluation
70-80 is Really Solid!
60-69 Needs Some Attention
50-59 Needs a LOT of Work
49 and under Needs a Complete Overhaul
Pick ONE area of improvement you need to make, and focus on it for the next seven days. Write it down and set aside time every single day to accomplish this one task.
Examples are: start every day reading Scripture (Proverbs is a great place to start reading the Proverb number that corresponds to the Day’s number) and Praying; spend time journaling and reflecting before you start your day; develop a new wind-down habit in the evening where you shut off all distractions and only focus on the Core Growth Four; memorize one verse or set of verses every day so you can be better prepared for Battle.
Additional Resources
If this message resonates, here are a few books that may help you grow deeper in this season of faith and calling:
Wild at Heart – John Eldredge
Disciplines of a Godly Man – R. Kent Hughes
Play the Man – Mark Batterson
Stand Firm: Act Like Men – Joby Martin
The Titus Ten – Josh Smith
Each one will help you develop strength, conviction, and clarity before you step into the next battle.
You might not feel progress right now, but you are not standing still.
God is working.
He is building patience, shaping character, and laying a foundation that will hold when the pressure comes.
Stay faithful. Stay focused. When the time comes, you will be ready.
Go Deeper
Craig Groeschel is one of my favorite leaders and my personal pastor since 2007. If you are still in the Discovery phase of God’s Will for your life, then watch this sermon. He has an entire series on this if you want to continue watching, but I highly recommend this one.
You guys are the best. Charge in hard to this week and don’t let your intensity slip at all.
See you next week,
Joshua Brown
Chief Firestarter at Soulfire
PS: I’m currently filming content for a 21-day program that’s designed to take all these steps and frameworks further. If you’d like to get a glimpse before it’s fully released then reply “Built” to this email and I’ll make sure you’re included!
