Do you ever feel like everything is against you? Do you ever feel like no matter how hard you try you end up defeated and discouraged as a Christian? If so, it could be because you aren’t fighting the right battle. And make no mistake, you are fighting a battle whether you realize it or not.
If you are a saved child of God then you have a very real enemy who is not physical but spiritual. Just as God is spirit, so too is the enemy and his minions. This enemy is doing everything in their power to distract, confuse and ultimately discredit you as a Christian. The Apostle Peter said it like this: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8) The enemy is in constant search mode looking for Christians who are not vigilant and are not prepared. These are the ones who are easy prey and all too often it is you and I. So then, how do we prepare for and gain victory against such an enemy?
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (physical) but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
The Apostle Paul understood the battleground. Although the consequences are all too often in the realm of the physical the actual battleground is spiritual. The war is waged in our hearts and minds first and foremost. Sin is birthed in the heart, in our innermost places. The enemy knows our weakest areas and he is just waiting for us to have a vulnerable moment, a bad day or an urge for something or someone so strong that it overcomes our defenses.
Therefore we must have a strong defense. We must have a heart that desires God above all and a mind that wants to know Him more and more. And we must be grounded and rooted in God’s Word so that we do not remain ignorant about our enemy or more importantly, where our victory comes from.
Notice again the verse above: “for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God”. Paul is trying to tell us that even though we won’t be picking up a physical sword or gun to fight the enemy, we still have weapons available to us that are powerful enough to “pull down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God”. God has given us everything we need to be victorious but it is up to us to grow in strength and maturity in Christ.
Prayer is where we must start. A vital prayer life keeps us connected to God in our spirit and helps us to keep our minds centered on God and away from temptation. I pray every single day that God would place a hedge of protection around me and deliver me from the evil one because I know how vulnerable I am without His protection. I recognize my own weakness and in doing so, ask God to give me His strength.
Quoting scripture is also an excellent defense against the powers of darkness. Whenever I am tempted to complain or become discouraged I can always find a verse in God’s Word that lifts me up and encourages me to keep going. I have my own favorites that I have memorized but I urge you to study the Bible and find those verses that really speak to your heart. If you are earnestly searching the Bible for a special word from the Lord then He will always give you exactly what you need.
Bolstered by prayer and armed with God’s Word in your heart you will find your outlook on life much improved. You will succeed where once you failed and you will not be a victim but a conqueror through Christ Jesus our Lord.