"...a time of war..." Ecclesiastes 3:8
I think that many times we forget that we are involved in a "spiritual" war. For many of you that is what is going on in your life at this moment. You have been feeling pressed on every side. Things are not going right. Your mind is constantly bombarded with thoughts it should not be thinking. Your home is in a state of uproar. You're having problems on your job. You are going through difficulties. You are being easily offended. You are depressed, anxious, discouraged even to the point where you feel like "throwing in the towel". There is confusion and distraction. You don't know why this is happening. You can't figure it out or put your finger on the source. Let me put my finger on it-- it is "spiritual warfare".
Life as a Christian is not just a life of blessings. You have a very real enemy who is not happy that you are living for the Lord, and he is out to destroy you. He has schemes, plans, devices and weapons that he uses to wage war against your soul. He has you in his "cross hairs" with one goal in mind-- to kill you.
When you look at the life of Job, who came after him to attack him? The devil. Job was attacked in his prosperity and material possessions. He was attacked in his health. He was attacked through his emotions, his feelings, in his mind, through his spouse, through his friends and in every way from every side. Job was in spiritual warfare. Don't forget that you are in a battle. Don't lose focus that there is a real enemy out there wanting to destroy you. Don't just think this is a natural occurrence. It is spiritual.
Stop whining, crying and bemoaning your situation. Stop rolling over and "playing dead". Stop fearing the enemy. Don't just sit back with the attitude "Que Sera Sera (Whatever will be will be)". Fight back. Get up and fight the good fight of faith. Get up and fight the enemy (remember the enemy is NOT flesh and blood). Use the mighty weapons that God has given you- put on the full armor of God. Bring those raging thoughts captive. Pull out the sword of the Spirit (God's word- the scriptures). Pray in the Spirit. Put on the garment of praise and break the enemy's hold on your emotions. We tend to focus on the fact that we are heirs and joint-heirs, accepted in the beloved, blessed of the Lord, blessed with all spiritual blessings, children of God-- we focus on all the "good and pleasant" things. But we forget that we are also mighty warriors dressed for battle. We are soldiers in the Lord's army. We take the Kingdom by force. And as we do, we are more than conquerors. We are victorious. We have power over all the powers of the enemy. We are over-comers. We win! Job was victorious in his spiritual battle. Why? "For I know that my redeemer liveth. Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold." (Job 19:25,27) He kept his focus on the Lord. It did get hard, and he did wonder why, and he did suffer, but he trusted God would be with him and see him through to the very end. Know that the Lord is with you in your battle, and He has given you the victory through His Son Jesus.
Have a great day. Have you forgotten that we are in "spiritual warfare" and much of what is happening to you is an attack of the enemy? Get up and do battle.
For further reading:
John 10:10
Ephesians 6
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