The moment you became a Christian; you entered a spiritual battle. Daily we must seek God’s word to help us not to weaken and fold into feelings of despair, depression, or anxiety. Learn how to prepare yourself for spiritual warfare.
Bible Scripture for Spiritual Warfare – Tear Down the Strongholds
(Scroll to the bottom for Scriptures on Spiritual Warfare)
Here I am feeling alone and defeated, sitting quietly in an old yellow plastic-covered chair in the furthest corner from the entrance to the library. Muttering to myself out loud, “I can’t do this… anymore.” Realizing that I was not only lost in a sea of old editorials but what I thought was a losing battle against my will.
Instead of focusing my time studying for an upcoming mid-term, I got lost in my circumstances. In that small, terribly lit corner of the library, I began to pray.
“God, if you can hear me, I need help!”
Growing up in a Christian home and accepting Christ as my Lord and Savior at a very young age, I knew all the acceptable Sunday school answers. But what I didn’t comprehend is the battle that I would experience during my college career. A conflict between; finding myself and having a relationship with Christ.
Have you been to a similar place? A grey place that overwhelms your soul, leaving you feeling trapped. You have nowhere to move as defeat intervenes, capturing your heart.
As my story began, I realized I didn’t sign up for this.
When I confidently marked my signature on the last page of my college application, four years earlier, the excitement and hope for my future rang high. I was going to be a nurse.
My identity confirmed and established that a career in nursing would fulfill my heart’s desire to help others. Knowing what I know now, I am for sure certain that God must have had a little giggle at my expense. “Oh sweet girl, I love you, but my plans are greater than your desires.”
What I don’t recall is signing up for the biggest personal struggle of my life. God knew that amid my troubling spirit, I was going to walk away with a more meaningful personal relationship with Him. My focus was on my devastating circumstances and not my future with Christ.
Patterns of Creation
From the very beginning of time, God made us to be rhythmic people. When He made it true and created the earth. He then created light and separated the light from darkness (Genesis 1:3-5). “God called the light “day,” and the darkness “night”. And there was evening, and there was morning — the first day.”
God immediately set us up for a day-to-night schedule. Time was established.
He created time to give us order but made it, so we would find pleasure in it as well. The sounds of rolling tides, songbirds singing, the swaying of trees from the unseen wind, the changing of seasons, all created by God, and all in perfect harmony and rhythm.
Mornings are promises of a new day, and seasons reveal God’s creativity, His goodness, and opportunities.
Out of Sorts
When we fall out of rhythm with God, we become overwhelmed, depressed, and anxious. We may even “feel” distant from him.
This is how we fall into the trap of trying to get caught back up. Suddenly, we find ourselves praying more. Now, we desire to make time to open our Bible and read God’s word, whereas we were previously too occupied.
In the in-betweens, we got comfortable doing things our way and lost sight of developing a relationship with our creator. All the while allowing our guard down, welcoming Satan to our sideline party.
As Christians, spiritual attacks are not a one-time occurrence, oh no! They start the very second that alarm goes off and our eyelids open. Satan watches, slowly pushing us in the direction he wants us to go; away from God.
If we do not stand alert, we end up on a slippery slope and find that climbing back up is now harder.
When you choose to follow Christ, you change.
You don’t need to sign a contract with God to follow Him. You must have a willing heart to accept that He knows best (and that he died on the cross for your sins). This is where my focus fell short. I believed that my identity was in my calling to be a nurse. I pursued my dream with a passion, but failed to seek Him through my college career. Thinking I could do it all myself.
God, being God, had a life lesson in store for me. He knew this one was going to be tough. And it was. But I am a much better person for it now.
The tools needed to make it through Spiritual Warfare
God’s word says that we are not to go to war against flesh and blood, against people, against the tangible things we can see, but against the forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12).
Just like preparing for an important interview, we must dress for success. Deciding that I could do all the things with my can-do attitude by myself. Keyword — MYSELF!!
Lucky for us, God loves us no matter what, and He plays no favoritism. He provides us all with the same tools, a complete provisions package. It contains six essential parts.
Let’s read from His word
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
– Ephesians 6:13
By wearing this powerful ensemble, The Armor of God, we can expect to be strengthened and protected for spiritual warfare. But it isn’t just about placing these articles of armor in our hearts by memorizing them.
We must actively pursue each part of God’s armor.
The Belt of Truth – The belt in Roman armor carried the weight of the entire ensemble. The symbolism is important. Knowing and carrying God’s holy word of truth will help us defeat the enemy. Confusion has no place when we know the truth.
Breastplate of Righteousness – The enemy knows that if he can get to your heart, he can push you further away from Christ. Putting on the breastplate is as simple as putting your faith in Christ. It is through Him that we gain righteousness. When we become saved, He doesn’t see our filth He is the righteousness of His son in us (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Feet Fitted with the Gospel of Peace – Just like the Roman soldiers, we can not plan on going into battle without protecting our feet. Shoes allow us to go further, faster. God has provided each of us with a special mission to share the gospel (1 Peter 3:15). He gives us peace when we walk with Him.
Shield of Faith – When we hold on to the faith (Hebrews 11:1) we have in Christ, we can withstand the attacks of Satan. Faith is our personal belief in our creator. When we put HIM first in our lives, we stand protected.
Helmet of Salvation – When we put on the helmet of salvation, it signifies that we belong to God. We are on His team. Jesus came to give us life. It is through Him that all our sins have been washed away. When we tell the enemy that our alliance is with God, he loses power over us.
The enemy has no power over a woman who is fully dressed for the occasion.
Let Pray Together
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for always walking beside us and leaving us the necessary tools to protect us from the enemy. Thank you for providing us with opportunities to grow closer to you. I thank you for these sisters in Christ who are taking a step forward in their faith. Please give us the ability to discern spiritual attacks and to lean closer to you. Help us to maintain our focus, keep present in your word, and to be thankful for the progress we make.
In your name, Jesus we pray – Amen.
10 Bible Scriptures for Spiritual Warfare
“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” – 1 John 4:4
“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.” – Ephesians 6:13
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” – 1 Peter 5:8-9
“No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me declares the Lord.” -Isaiah 54:17
More Great Scriptures for Spiritual Warfare
“In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” – Romans 8:37
“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:3
“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.” – Luke 10:19
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”– John 10:10
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
Do you have bible scriptures for spiritual warfare that has helped you? We would love to know. Leave us a comment below.
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Read More on Jen Schreiner
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