How do I know if Spiritual Warfare is real?
Great question! It’s gets asked all the time. But instead defining Spiritual Warfare, let’s peek into your circumstances to see if you’re experiencing it.
For starters, is someone rubbing you the wrong way?
Like are they the highest grit sandpaper in your everyday life, and you just can’t get away from them? Is there someone standing in your way, opposing you, or even hurting you? Could be, you’re in the middle of Spiritual Warfare.
Ephesians 6:12 says, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Paul, the author of Ephesians, wants us to realize that it’s not really that person that’s blocking our way, but a power much greater in a realm unseen that is bent on getting us down by keeping us defeated. Yes, we have an enemy, but it’s not the person we think. This enemy is a spirit; an unseen foe who wants to keep us from experiencing the blessings God has stored up for us. If he can keep us walking around defeated and discouraged, we won’t ever discover our purpose or fully connect to God.
So next, let’s say you’ve become discouraged
and you begin to doubt that God has anything good planned for you. Or possibly that He’s punishing you for not having enough faith, or not being a ‘good enough’ Christian. Could this too be an attack? Absolutely! You most likely have found yourself standing smack in the middle of the battlefield.
Doubt is one of the biggest signs of Spiritual Warfare, especially when it has to do with God’s goodness. This actually, was the very first tactic of our enemy way back when in the Garden of Eden. He took on the physical form of a snake as he slithered up to Eve and posed the point, “Did God really say…” causing her to wonder if God really wanted her to have the good things of the garden.
One little-whispered lie of doubt can send us reeling as well…
“Why don’t I have the talent that she does?
Why don’t my kids behave as well as I taught them to?
Why am I the only one who has to suffer from this problem?
Why can’t I make enough money to whatever I want”
Do you see how these doubtful thoughts can drag us down into a spiral self-pity, far from where God desires us?
And last, what if you can’t get back up?
I mean, when you’re down and filled with so much doubt you begin to believe it’s all your fault. Regret over the mistakes you’ve made tears at your soul until you feel like God couldn’t have anything to do you with you anymore. But Warrior, nothing could be farther from the truth!
You see, one of the names of this enemy of ours is ‘the accuser.’ And I actually think he is pretty proud of this one because he puts it to use all the time. He stirs us up, tempting us to sin, then he points his crooked finger at our heart, telling us its all our fault. Terrible! So we turn away thinking we are the worst Christian to walk the planet and we could never represent God again.
No, Warrior, the reason our enemy wants us feeling guilty and condemned is so that we won’t confess to God. So that we keep it all bottled up inside, secret and festering. He wants us isolated, lonely and blaming only ourselves so that we never step into the light of God’s goodness, feeling the warmth of His love, knowing the compassion of His forgiveness and mercy.
So how do we have victory in Spiritual Warfare?
Below is a list of basics to get you started as a Warrior. And victory comes in part by realizing the proper mindset each day, knowing you’re not alone in the battles, but that God is always on your side.
- Be Prepared – Know you have an enemy but don’t fear him more than you trust God. 1 Peter 5:8 says, Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. We must first acknowledge that Spiritual Warfare is real and that we do have an enemy. However, putting too much emphasis on the enemy takes the focus off of God and His power.
- Be Prayerful – Connect your spirit to heaven to receive all God has for you. Ephesians 6:18 says, And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Prayer is a piece of armor that we often neglect, however it is a powerful weapon in all types of battles. (Listen to these podcasts to learn more about prayer: Hannah, Esther, and Mary of Bethany)
- Be Protected – Put on the full Armor of God, daily! Ephesians 6:14-17 says, Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (For more help, click on a piece of armor in the verse to listen to a podcast of a Warrior who has seen victory using it)
- Be Powerful – Receive God’s power and walk forward in it. 1 John 4:4 You are from God, little children, … the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. Stand firm and BELIEVE that God is for you. He created you on purpose, for a purpose. You are a Warrior. Live with that intention!
I would LOVE to hear how this has encouraged you, Warrior! Leave me a comment. If you have a friend who could use some encouragment, share this with them. Let’s spread the Word so that we can all be victorious!
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like: Sharpen Your Sword Skills: Duel with the Spoken Word of God or When the Morning Assaults our Mindset: How to WakeUp and Win.
