Spiritual Warfare
My sister and I would love to fight over which new restaurant we would try next. I love Mexican and she loves Italian. So you can imagine the war we would have over choosing tacos or linguine. Those playful wars seems to be a thing of the past as more pressing issues have taken our attention. Gone are the days where we fought over who has control of the TV remote. Small fights over what kind of pizza we will order seem total ridiculous as we take in our new normal and what’s happening all around us. The world as we know it has changed. We have entered into a new chapter of life. One that seems scary and extremely uncertain. And the truth is, no one knows how long this chapter will last. People all over the world are dying from an invisible enemy. There is a shift in the atmosphere. There is a war going on! Yet this war has been present long before you and I were born. This cosmic battle between good and evil has now taken a different turn and everyone is feeling it’s jolts. A war for our souls. There is a battle going on and whether you want to admit it or not, it involves you.
Spiritual Warfare can be defined as the supernatural fight between good and evil forces. Ephesians 6:10-18 is a passage that resonates deeply during this time. Try reading it in multiple translations, especially The Amplified Translation. Verse 12 really exposes the spiritual warfare we are in. “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”, Eph6:12 NIV. Satan and his goons are using all types of schemes to keep us in sin and hopelessness. This invisible war has tangible casualties. Have you ever experienced discouragement and a slew of unexplainable tragedies? Have you ever felt like your heart was so heavy with problems and you instinctively wanted to do anything but pray to feel better? Spiritual Warfare is anything that opposes the things of God. Generational curses, strongholds, jealousy, lies, hate, addictions, grudges and the list goes on. These examples stem from evil spirits and we must fight against them. The word of God reminds us to put on the full armor as described in Eph6:14-18, 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 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.
We have to stay prayed up and geared up folks. The word of God is clear and we should take heed. James 4:7 boldly states, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”. Don’t submit to unlimited Netflix bingeing and non-stop scrolling on social media. Media effects the mind. So be discerning about what you feed your soul. Your exposure to evil and vain entertainment will not aid in you fighting this war we are in. I personal had to heavily filter what I expose my eyes to. Not because I am weak or immature but because I know spiritual decay comes through many unassuming avenues. Remember Proverbs 4:23 CEB, “More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it”. The spirit of lust, anxiety and fear often looms by waiting to enter your mind through your environment and the things you exposure your soul to. We can’t see demons but they are real and we must be aware of their possible entry points into our lives. Prayer and mediating on the word of God guides us to stay protected.
As we aim to stay safe during these difficult times. Remember the other invisible war: Spiritual warfare. Keep a prayer in your heart always. 1 Thessalonians 5:15, Pray without ceasing .
And never forget that we already have the victory over every battle that comes against us! No matter what you’re going through, we are winners. You are a conqueror. God is fighting both with us and in us. Psalm 60:12 (NIV), “With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies”!
Daniela Jean, Author of Live Your Worth
Daniela is a Young adult leader and Women’s ministry coordinator in Miami,FL
