We know in our minds that we wouldn’t even exist if God had not designed us. We probably have heard or read Scriptures about God being the source of our strength.
But, as we go about our daily routines, do we sometimes forget that we, as Christians, are in a spiritual battle and that He is our strength in that battle?
Satan wants to “steal and kill and destroy” us (John 10:10 NIV). His war-waging weapons — gossip, jealousy, slander, verbal attacks (to name a few) — are utterly useless in the spiritual realm. When we give into them, we are giving up. We are not fighting.
In Ephesians 6:10-18, we are told to “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (New International Version) and then the Apostle Paul lists the different parts of the armor — truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, the Word of God, “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (verse 18), be alert and continually pray for all of God’s people.
We need to fight spiritual battles with the full armor that God provides. Why? Because the weapons God provides have divine power (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). We need God’s power in this daily fight.
As we consider these weapons, let us ask God to show us HOW to put them into practice.
- Certainly we must cling to God’s truth when we are in a spiritual battle; otherwise our armor is as weak as a lie. Let’s face reality for what it is, rather than clinging to an illusion. Let us always speak the truth.
- Righteousness leads us to do what is right in the sight of God. This is especially important when we are tempted to put our own view or others’ view of what is right above God’s approval.
- Readiness can only come when we have prepared our hearts with the truth of the Gospel. Preparation for battle comes before the battle!
- Do we base our decisions on our conviction of God’s truth or on anything else? Faith is a shield that, through the power of God, we can quench all of Satan’s burning arrows. (What wouldn’t his arrows be on fire?)
- A helmet protects the head. Salvation is our helmet. We know we are saved by the blood of the Jesus and this protects our soul as we are fighting against temptations.
- The Word of God is referred to as the sword, which is used in battle for stabbing the enemy. We must know the Word to use it in the battle!
- And pray. Pray with the help of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26). Don’t limit prayer! Pray all the time about everything “with all kinds of prayers and requests.”
- Stay alert. Continually be on watch. The devil’s schemes are evil and often disguised, so we must be on the lookout.
- Persevere in prayer for all God’s people. We all need the prayers of all the saints!
In order to change behavior, we must first be committed . . . and then we need to be reminded. Writing the Scripture and placing it where we can see it every day is one way to help us REMEMBER this battle plan. We need to pray about it, asking God to help us put it into practice each day.
May God help us fight the battle with His full armor and never try to do it on our own.
If you want to learn more about who Jesus and how to follow Him, here’s a short article to help you get started — https://woww.newlifebehavior.org/what-it-means-to-follow-jesus-how-to-become-a-christian/.
Women of Worth Worldwide 