“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. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Rather than growing weary of the spiritual battle we face each day, we should be thankful that we recognize the schemes of the devil. Be thankful that you recognize that the unpleasantness, oppression and heaviness you feel from time to time is the result of spiritual warfare. Consider all those people under the sway of Satan who are oblivious to his influence. They live on, day after day, not sensing any struggle within their soul. They may not feel the assault – or recognize its source. Yet – being blind to the dangerous situation they face, find themselves poorly equipped to fight back.
So be thankful that you feel the attack and are aware that it truly is an attack.
And be thankful when God grants you those reprieves during times of conflict whereby you feel the burden and heaviness lift. God has sent his Spirit to alleviate your suffering and deliver you from attack. Give thanks for every moment of rest he sends your way.
Remember as well your responsibility to fight the good fight. Sometimes our efforts to fight are rather weak and half-hearted. To fight means to struggle, agonize, and make every effort to defeat the world, the flesh and the devil.
Satan never wavers in his hatred of you or in his determination to keep you off-balance and out-of-focus. If he could, he would keep you out of heaven. Through lies, half-truths, misunderstanding and false encouragement, he constantly seeks to keep you confused. Or complacent.
Satan doesn’t always accuse us or heap guilt on us when we sin. He might even use sin to provide a temporary, false sense of happiness. Sin feels good. It even boosts our sense of well-being and self-esteem. It encourages us. (Falsely)
Make no mistake. Satan’s tactics are always changing. You see victory on one front, and get blindsided on another. You make progress in one area of your life, while Satan flies under the radar like a stealth bomber, ready to blow you to pieces in another part of your life. He’ll even back off one area of your life and plant the thought that finally – finally! – you’ve got this thing under control. You have won the victory!
The next day you get blown off the planet.
Make no mistake. The stakes are enormous.
Equip yourself with the spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6 and then fight like you intend to win. Make it your goal to be able to say at the end of your life, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Take seriously Paul’s command in 1 Timothy 6:12: “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called . . .” Unfortunately, many Christians are not only not fighting, they’re not even aware they’re in a war.
We are in a war. Failing to fight is to put your soul in danger.
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