Our household recently experienced an illness that passed through our entire home and it took about two weeks to recover from it. In that time frame, try as I might to get up and live life like I wasn’t put out, I had to succumb sometimes to just lying in bed. While to some that sounds like a pleasant break, I was truly struggling with it. I wanted to be up and active. In that time frame, the muscles in my legs and arms atrophied a bit. I felt weak some days and had cramps in my calves and biceps. …
Dressed to Kill
This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world. (Ephesians 6:12) The apostle Paul very well knew that we would engage in spiritual warfare, therefore he affirms that our spiritual battles are constant with an enemy who is crafty and full of evil. The enemy is masterful and cunning and will go to any measure to disarm us from our faith. He comes against us with different methods, and if he fails at one, …
The Unexpected Warrior
What do you think of when I say “warrior”? What do you see? Do you see a roughly cut man with bulging muscles, sweaty and dirty? How is he dressed? More importantly, what does God say about being his warrior? Does God mean me? I have found myself lately in a lot of turmoil. I am in the middle of a storm, a fight no doubt about it. As I read, Jesus continues to tell me to be “strong and courageous”. If I am totally honest with all of you there are times that I am tired of being strong …
Faith in the Battle
As Christians we have ways of combating the devil’s evil plans for making us miserable: We can humbly pray and ask God to let us resist the enemy. We can remember the promise God make to us that He wouldn’t put more on us than we can bear. We can put on the armor of God. “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 …
The Battlefield of the Mind
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 I touched on this subject in my last devotional but I think it’s important, so I want to write about it in more detail. Yesterday I compared our minds to a battlefield and I quoted Paul in 2 Corinthians about taking our thoughts captive. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take …
Courage in the Battle
How do we move forward with courage into the spiritual battles we face? Going into any battle can be intimidating and scary. I honestly don’t know how our American soldiers do it, but I am so grateful for their courage and sacrifice. It is because of their bravery and diligence that we have the privilege of living in a free country. I admit that sometimes my first reaction to conflict or pain is to withdraw from it; to escape to a safer, more comfortable situation. But when it comes to spiritual matters we cannot afford to run from it or …
The Schemes of our Enemy
My precious sisters and brothers, we have an enemy. Are you familiar with his tactics? Satan is not a mythological being. He is very real. One of the strategies of any enemy is to remain hidden, because the element of surprise always gives the upper hand in battle. Our enemy is no different. He is strategic and skilled and he is hoping you aren’t paying attention. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family …
The Unseen Battle
Have you ever experienced a feeling of heaviness in your chest accompanied by a convincing feeling that God doesn’t love you or has abandoned you? Even though intellectually you know it isn’t true and you know that God promises He will never leave you or forsake you, it still feels very much like truth. That’s just one example of my own spiritual battle I often face. There are many more examples. Fear is another one I struggle with. Satan can have me so paralyzed with fear that I become convinced I’m worthless. One thing I’ve learned from my years as …
Don’t Drop Your Sword!
How seriously do you take prayer? For most Christians, prayer is merely a side-item to their “feel-good” faith; this is a sad and terrible travesty. Prayer is one of our most powerful weapons in offensive spiritual warfare. Most of us can say that we know the Scripture referencing our spiritual armor… Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against …