This Means War
Recently a Relay Exchange group in Year Four planned an amazing overnight trip for the Friendship event. Despite careful organization and much excitement, in the days leading up to the weekend some of the mothers in the group were plagued with illness, exhaustion, and feelings of defeat. This group was under attack. Recognizing the assault, several of the moms prayed for the group, and God answered. Hearing about the success of the weekend, as well as the battle it took to get there, reminded us that we all need to arm ourselves.
“If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place.”
Proverbs 24:10 MSG
We don’t have to fall to pieces every time we hit a snag or start to despair. As the mothers in this Year Four group demonstrated, there is a better way. Prayer is always our best line of defense. What are some other ways we can be prepared for spiritual warfare? Because if you are leading a group or your own daughter to grow in Christ, you are a target. Therefore, we need to be aware of and prepare for spiritual warfare.
“Strategic planning is the key to warfare.”
Proverbs 24:6a MSG
Battles are won through wisdom, intelligence and good counsel, not just might. Strategic planning is the key to warfare. What kind of strategic planning do we need for spiritual warfare?
(1) Make it a habit of replacing worry with prayer and praise.
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”
Philippians 4:6-7 MSG
Take everything before God immediately when it comes up and remember who holds all power.
(2) Practice contentment.
“Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances. I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need. I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”
PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13 AMP
Paul learned not to be disturbed or even uneasy regardless of circumstances. He knew how to live in the strength and sufficiency of Christ. He could enjoy and celebrate the good and get along in the difficult. He was ready for anything.
(3) Focus your mind.
“Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].”
PHILIPPIANS 4:8 AMP
Center your mind. Get control of your thoughts. Be deliberate about what fills your mind.
(4) Choose Joy.
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”
Philippians 4:4 NLT
Be joyful. Be grateful. Look for the blessings. What brings you pure joy? Do more of that and seek more of Jesus.
(5) Be sure not to arm the enemy.
“For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”
Colossians 1:9-14 NLT
We have been rescued, and this rescue is the forgiveness of our sins. We have been rescued: past tense, done, completed, already happened, it’s finished. We have been rescued so we ARE rescued.
“You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”
Colossians 2:13-15 NLT
God has disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities by canceling the record of our sins through Jesus’ death on the cross. They are disarmed. They have no useful weapons. All they really have is smoke and mirrors. However, it doesn’t always feel as if the enemy has been disarmed. Could it be that we are handing the enemy the weapons of our fear, our unbelief, our forgetfulness, and our lack of spiritual discipline? Is our lack of faith and unbelief actually re-arming the enemy after God successfully accomplished a disarmament? Are we praying for protection and provision while we are simultaneously handing our opponents a sword? Anytime we act out of fear, fail to recognize the power of God, act in our own strength, refuse to surrender our will, fail to absorb truth in Scripture, prioritize our success over the kingdom, or choose comfort over courage, we are exposing our weakness and lighting the fiery darts of the enemy, which are aimed straight at us! We know Jesus endured the cross to complete the ultimate disarmament exercise, yet we repeatedly provide enemy forces with false weaponry.
This false weaponry may be our own fear and unbelief, and it may be fueled by lies we are led to believe. Since the enemy has been disarmed and has no weapons, deception is the only recourse. Therefore, we must know the truth so that we can recognize the lies. We must soak in truth and remind our kids of truth. If lies are the weapon, truth is the defense.
(6) Put on your armor, everyday.
Paul instructs us to STAND OUR GROUND and put on our armor, starting with the belt of truth:
“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT
Our prayer for 2020 is that we all put on God’s armor everyday. AMEN.