The Core - Prepared Warriors

By Crystal Campbell

Many people are not prepared for the struggles, trials, and pain that life throws at them. People are getting beat-up, overwhelmed, and considering giving up. NEVER GIVE UP! Before you go out and conquer the world, you need to power up by connecting to the source of all power and strength. The Core is the source for all you need to make it through life with joy, peace, and confidence. This book is designed to help you quickly prepare for life's battles, with a focus on the first principle of spiritual warfare: Connect to the Core before you to go war.  This book offers a detailed account of the Core, and how you can connect with it. Each chapter of this book was written with consideration for the readers, young and old, beginners to more seasoned. You will delve into topics that lay an essential foundation. Then, you will be presented with new ideas and applications that will benefit even a seasoned warrior. As you read, reflect, and examine you will discover your strengths, blind spots, and how to grow closer to the Core. As the first fruits of Prepared Warriors, this book is an essential first step. If you apply these principles to your life, you are assured victory in this life and the next. Spiritually Prepare for Life's Battles & Judgment Day.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crystal Campbell
• Release date: Dec 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393727477

Crystal Campbell

Crystal Campbell is a worshipper, author, and founder of Prepared Warriors. During a time of refreshing and reflecting on past battles, God began to show Crystal how she became a successful spiritual warrior. There are three main keys for success: God's Word, Worship, and Prayer. She saw how God prepared her for battle by drawing closer to Him, which is always the right answer. Crystal, and her husband Corey, have four children and live in California.

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Crystal Campbell

The Core

Prepared Warriors

First published by Crystal Campbell 2020

Copyright © 2020 by Crystal Campbell

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Crystal Campbell asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Crystal Campbell has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ Book Science Speaks by Peter W. Stoner, M.S. and Robert C. Newman, S.T.M., Ph.D.

Cover and interior design by Crystal Campbell

Cover photo by Kevin Carden – stock.adobe.com

Edited by James Wagner

www.preparedwarriors.com

First edition

ISBN: 978-1-7355618-1-3

This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

Find out more at reedsy.com

Contents

Acknowledgement

PROLOGUE

I. MASTERS & ALLEGIANCE

1. TJ’S STORY: CHOOSE A SIDE

2. MASTERS & ALLEGIANCE

3. GOD OR SATAN

4. CHOOSE YOUR MASTER

II. PREPARED WARRIORS

5. TJ’S STORY: BATTLEGROUND

6. PREPARED WARRIORS

7. PREPARED FOR VICTORY

8. PREPARE FOR LIFE’S BATTLES

9. NEVER GIVE UP

10. PREPARE FOR JUDGMENT DAY

III. CORE CONNECTION

11. TJ’S STORY: DISTRACTIONS & TRAPS

12. THE CORE

13. CORE CONNECTION

14. MEET - RELEASE - RECEIVE

IV. WORD CONNECTION

15. TJ’S STORY: THE LIVING WORD

16. WORD CONNECTION

17. WORD: MEET - RELEASE - RECEIVE

V. WORSHIP CONNECTION

18. TJ’S STORY: TRUE WORSHIP

19. WORSHIP CONNECTION

20. WORSHIP: MEET - RELEASE - RECEIVE

VI. PRAYER CONNECTION

21. TJ’S STORY: PRAYER POWER

22. PRAYER CONNECTION

23. JESUS & PRAYER

24. P-R-A-Y (Praise - Repent - Ask - Yield)

VII. FINAL REVIEW

25. TJ’S STORY: THE FRUIT OF FAITHFULNESS

26. FINAL REVIEW

27. GET READY. STAY READY.

REFERENCES

Acknowledgement

DEDICATION

It is with the greatest and deepest appreciation, I dedicate this book to my family, who are all warriors in their own right: Corey, Sadie, Teyo, Sophia, Nia, Dad, Mom, Angie, Beckie, David, and Ellie. You have each overcome many of life’s battles and never gave up! You inspire me. May God bless each of you with a household of faithful Prepared Warriors for generations to come, and may it begin with you.

Special thanks to my sister, Angie, who as a child, in an effort to shut down my talkative nature, would say, just go write it in your book. Thank you for the prophetic declaration you spoke over me again and again. It has finally come to pass.

THANKS

All thanks and praise to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You have been my precious Savior all my life. You never left me, even in the hardest moments. You carried me through the pain and refined me in your fire. I finally emerged from that dark season. Then, you showed me that drawing closer to you, through your Word, worship, and prayer was a strategy for victory you wanted me to share. So, Prepared Warriors was born. You had me step out of my comfort zone and start live broadcasts and start writing my first book, The Core. Every time I cried out to you, help me write the truth God, you proved yourself faithful. You’re amazing. God, your plans are always right. May you be glorified through every word of this book and ministry.

Thank you to my Editor, James Wagner, for graciously agreeing to work with me on my first book. To my lifelong friend and prayer partner, Dionne, who also happens to be an amazing proofreader, thank you! Thank you to all of my beta readers for your feedback that made every bit better. Thank you to my dear friends who faithfully prayed for me every step of the way: Dove, Edwina, Christina, Angie, Vicki, Connilyn, and Lisa. I LOVE YOU! I would also like to thank all my friends who contributed to the publishing of this book. I’m so thankful for each of you, your support, and your encouragement.

Finally, I would like to thank my husband, Corey, for believing in me, and encouraging me as I wrote this book. Your love has saved us over and over, love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:8) Thank you to my beautiful children, Sadie, Teyo, Sophia, and Nia, who listened to me read so much of what I wrote. I love you each dearly and pray daily for you to become strong Prepared Warriors. Thank you to my parents who raised me to be a warrior with a foundation of faith in the one true living God.

PROLOGUE

As the dust rises above the battle, the war rages on. Fierce warriors fighting side by side with young fresh warriors. The enemy cares not the rank of soldier, its only mission is to destroy. Think not that this war is optional. No reprieve will be given. The immense weight of the season is upon us. The hour is late. The time is now. Will you rise, or will you fall? Your preparation makes all the difference. Have you prepared for this moment? Do you know your weapons? Can you swing your sword? Do you carry a shield? The moment you step on the battlefield every weakness is amplified and readily visible to the enemy and you. Now as each warrior fights for their lives, they must also gather their armor at the same time. Piecing together their covering even as the enemy slings its arrows and crushes down on them. Some warriors struggle and others come to help, but they are also under attack and cannot possibly assist each other enough to dissuade the enemy from their demise. They must stand. They must fight. They must.

All around us spiritual wars rage on: sickness, relationship problems, mental health, political upheaval, sin abounds, families crumble. Yet in the midst of the chaos, in the heart of the storm is you. You are silently watching the world swirl around you, yet you have peace that passes all understanding. The storm does not overtake you. You stand strong, confident, unmoved by the flurry of debris that threatens to strike you.

How? How does this happen? Why are there those who come through tragedy, or trials unscathed? They emerge with gems of wisdom and knowledge, with a peaceful spirit. They, you, have something, a secret weapon, a power that eclipses any storm, any weapon, any enemy. It is so simple many miss it. They overlook it and pass it up as outdated or irrelevant. But you know the truth. The truth has set you free. The truth is you are connected to the Core. The Core of all creation. The Core of all people. The source of all life. The source of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

You have a steady flow of the life-giving energy, the wisdom of the universe, and the perspective of Heaven. You carry the Core within you and draw from this power, wisdom, and love daily. It fills you and provides for your every need. It prepares you for every battle. It allows you to see what it sees. It protects you. You are surrounded by favor and blessings even while the enemy attacks you with all its might. The Core. The Core is the key. You must have the Core and connect with it continually. It is the only way to survive and remain at peace. The Core is God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

It is possible to know about God and not have the Core. It is possible to believe in Jesus and not have the Core. It is even possible to have the Holy Spirit and not reap the blessings of Core connection. The Core connection is where all of the power lies. It is where the peace, love, healing, and acceptance lies. Sporadic spurts or occasional dips in the spring of life cannot possibly sustain you in battle. A continual flow and exchange must be established and fostered to receive the full blessing, favor, and gifts from the Core. Once your connection is secure, and you begin to receive all of the goodness of God, you will not want to turn it off! You will, Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8)

Time is pressing. There is no moment to waste. Seize the daylight while it lasts. (John 9:4) Connect to the Core, connect to God and receive all you can now. For a time will soon be upon us when darkness rises and the time to prepare is over. Heed the parable of the Ten Virgins. Only five of them were prepared when the bridegroom arrived. The other five were left behind because they were not prepared.

But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. - Matthew 25:10

We are sounding the alarm and calling all warriors to PREPARE for battle. The time is now. Where do we begin? How can we possibly prepare for the days to come? Maybe you are already under attack and struggling to just survive. No matter where you find yourself, no matter what age, experience, or stage, we must all prepare.

Nothing happens by accident. You reading this book is not an accident. God has a plan and purpose for you. The creator of the entire universe wants YOU to be a part of His kingdom.

You may not believe in God, or know who Jesus is. We will go over exactly who He is, and why He is an essential part of your victory. But first, I must give a warning. The devil does not like people to know the truth. He will try to stop you from preparing. He will speak as though a thought in your own mind. Do not believe his lies. Jesus tells us about Satan, … there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44) Satan’s lies are meant to keep you out of Heaven and send you to hell, plain and simple. You might hear or think…

No one really cares what I do, or if I even exist

TRUTH: God made you for a purpose. He made you and He doesn’t make mistakes. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14)

I’ve done too many bad things. God can’t use me now.

TRUTH: The blood of Jesus is more powerful than your sin. He can use even the hardest things you have been through for His good and glory. Many people are able to help other people through what they have experienced themselves. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

I don’t believe there is a god.

TRUTH: There is a God. He is very real. He reveals Himself in His creation all around you. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)

God doesn’t love me.

TRUTH: God loves you so much more than you could ever imagine. He loves you so much that He allows you to choose Him. He doesn’t force you to love Him. Even before we loved him, He gave His life, so our sins could be forgiven. But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

I don’t have time to figure all this out. I’m too busy right now.

TRUTH: None of us are promised tomorrow. Your eternal destiny and purpose are too important to put off! Ultimately, you make time for what is important to you. You may not be in the midst of the storm now, but storms are sure to come. If you prepare now, you will be able to withstand the storm, and live victoriously. Remember, you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:2) Be ready.

"I’ve been Christian all my life, I already know

all I need to know about God, and the Bible."

TRUTH: None of us know all there is to know about God and the Bible. How great is God – beyond our understanding! (Job 36:26) We should be continuously growing and learning. A great prayer is, God help me learn more about you and how your Kingdom works.

"Every age there is someone saying it’s the tribulation period.

I don’t need to prepare, because it isn’t happening in my lifetime."

TRUTH: We all need to prepare because Jesus told us He would return, But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father. (Matthew 24:36) If Christ returned today could you say all your accounts are in order, you fulfilled all He planned for you, and you are ready to meet your Maker

"I’m getting raptured any day now.

I won’t have to go through any tribulation."

TRUTH: Rapture or not, Christians are already being persecuted and martyred around the world at alarming rates. There are many Christian ministries that track and report this specific information. We cannot count on a pre-tribulation Rapture, even if the best and brightest prophecy scholars believe it.

There are other amazing prophecy scholars who believe we will go through the tribulation period. Many modern-day Prophets are on a mission to help prepare Christians to endure through the tribulation period. Eventually, we will all know who was right. But, wouldn’t it be wise to prepare to endure through persecution and the tribulation period?

We simply don’t have enough space in this book to debunk every lie the enemy speaks. Just note that it is his voice, not yours, and it’s not true. You don’t have to agree with it. Do not be distracted, discouraged, become complacent, or be tempted to stop reading. This book is important because it shows you how to connect to the truth that will set you free, give you victory, and eternal life in Heaven. That’s a pretty large claim! This book alone is not that powerful, but it points you to the one who is and shows you how to connect to Him. God, the Core, is the key to everything.

I

MASTERS & ALLEGIANCE

1

TJ’S STORY: CHOOSE A SIDE

How was school today TJ? He gave his standard reply, Normal. But, today was anything but normal. There was a war raging within his soul. He would not be able to rest until it was all settled. His entire paradigm had shifted in one conversation.

The demons were doing their best to fly interference and keep TJ from even meeting the Christian boy, Teyo, the warrior. But the warrior’s angels were strong and fierce. He moved freely no matter how they tried to block him. There was little they could do when the warrior approached TJ. They screamed Go away! Don’t listen to him! He doesn’t know what he’s talking about! Run! But TJ didn’t leave, he started talking to the warrior! Reinforcements!! We need reinforcements!! But it was too late, the area was blocked off by angels now. Their numbers seemed to multiply in an instance, and the demons assigned to TJ cowered in their presence.

The boys made quick introductions; they had never met before. As they discussed their various groups and activities, Teyo asked So, do you go to church anywhere? Are you a Christian? That threw TJ off guard. He didn’t know how to give a simple answer. His family used to attend a church, but when they moved, they never found a new church, and he had kind of forgotten about it. Teyo proceeded to tell him about his church and invited TJ to attend with him.

The demons continued to protest, I told you to run! Never listen to a Christian! They don’t even like you! They just try to sell you their religion! It’s awful! He’s a liar! Run away! But the angels stood their ground and the warrior’s protection was secure with the seal of God on him. He was untouchable, but TJ wasn’t. They focused their attention on TJ. He must listen to them; they have become good friends. He always listened to them before. What was wrong with him?

The exchange was rather quick, but before they parted Teyo asked one last question, Hey TJ, if you died today, do you know for sure where you would go? TJ wasn’t sure about anything. He didn’t even understand his math homework. But he did know that was an important question, even for someone his age. Before he moved, a classmate, he knew well, died. It seemed surreal, but he knew it was all too real. Death does happen, even for young people. He wanted what Teyo seemed to have, a peace about life and death. It didn’t appear to scare him at all. As he walked away, he knew this would occupy his mind until he had the answer.

That night TJ went to bed early. He had so much to think about. Even as he thought, the demons assigned to him began to speak again, You don’t have to think about this now. You’re young, you’re not going to die. You’ve got plenty of time to figure this out. Just go to sleep, you’re so tired. But even as they spoke, TJ knew it wasn’t true. He knew the truth, that none of us know when our time is up. He knew it was important because he could feel the empty pit in his stomach confirming the need, the desire for more.

Just then, an angel stepped into the room. The demon shrieked, "You can’t come in here! This is my territory! You