“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.” Psalm 18:30-33
A psalm of David when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
Are you in a spiritual battle? I pray that the following verses by Craig Sabin will encourage you to keep fighting, as much as they did me!
O, weak and broken soldier, rise!
Get on your feet and fix your eyes
Upon your Captain, King and Lord,
Who bids you wield His living sword!
So what, your strength has slipped away,
You're weary from the race you've run,
So what, your body, broken lay,
You're not discharged! Your work's not done!
The weaker vessels show His pow'r;
The broken show it ev'ry hour.
So rise, and for His glory, strive!
By faith, from brokenness revive!
A soldier suffers hardship oft!
No featherbed of ease for him,
'Twould make him slow and weak and soft,
Instead of fell and fighting trim, so Rise!
Recall your purpose, high and grand,
A battle rages through the land,
The enemy has evil planned,
Against him you are called to stand so Rise!
Get up and stand against the flood! And fear not death nor darkest grave, But wrestle not with flesh and blood, For they're the ones we fight to save.
Let love and light shine like a star, And let the truth consume the lies, Remember who and whose you are, And when you fall don't fail to RISE!
Endure until the bitter end,
And ev'ry ounce of effort spend!
It matters not you're weak and small,
Your Captain is the Lord of All so RISE!
And put His mighty armor on!
And hold the line as soldiers must!
The dark will flee before the dawn;
It's His to win and ours to trust!
And Rise!
He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” The 2nd Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 12, verse 9
“Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” The 2nd Letter to Timothy, Chapter 2, verse 3
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 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.” The Letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 6, verses 12-13
“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” The Letter to the Hebrews, Chapter 12, verse 3
Postscript – Every child of God through faith in Jesus Christ is born into warfare, but the weapons of our warfare are not physical, and no son of Adam is our true enemy. Even so, the battle is real and many suffer real and lasting harm, so this war is more than mere metaphor.
It’s a pitfall of our nature (and one with which I am well acquainted) that we tend to be soft on ourselves and when we suffer hardship or injury, especially if it is particularly grievous, we at once turn all of our focus upon ourselves and in our self-pity think that we have somehow been excused from the conflict when, in fact, this is when and where the battle is thickest and the danger the greatest.
This collection of verses is written to my own soul, as it were, and is meant to somewhat mercilessly dispatch the several lies and excuses that have rallied against me and sought my destruction in the midst of my trials. Furthermore, it is meant as a strong exhortation to the endurance and faith without which, scripture is clear, we cannot hope to inherit the kingdom of heaven.
Image credit: Frederic Edwin Church, 1860, “Twilight in the Wilderness,” Pubic Domain, courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Many years ago, when I was in a Word of Faith church, I was wrongly taught that we had “revelation knowledge”. It was actually a prideful attitude, thinking we knew and understood so much more than that “religious” church down the street.
We naively sought understanding from the many books written by false teachers that could be found in our bookstore. Some of these errant teachings on spiritual warfare have permeated evangelical Christianity.
I decided to set aside everything I had learned from “Bible teachers” and books and to seek understanding about spiritual warfare from the Bible alone.
What the Bible says about spiritual warfare is straightforward and plain to see. There is no mysterious, hidden meaning that only the spiritual elite can understand. The Bible warns us about the ways of Satan. It also tells us how to stand against his schemes. Only by reading and studying God’s Word daily will we learn these things. There is no shortcut.
Spiritual Warfare isn’t some mysterious prayer technique. In fact, it really isn’t that complicated at all. In its purest form, engaging in spiritual warfare is proclaiming the Gospel and speaking the Truth in God’s Word.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Romans 1:16
Stop and think about that for a moment. The world today believes many lies that literally shock the senses! I won’t list them here because you already know what they are.
“True spiritual warfare is a battle for the minds of men because they are held in bondage to Satan by believing the lies that he (Satan) has told them.”
The Christian’s battle (true spiritual warfare) is not a feeling, an intuition or an imaginative experience in the spirit realm – however real it might seem.”
To be a mighty warrior, we must trust in God’s Word. We must study it to be prepared. Consider this familiar passage on spiritual warfare. Notice that this passage is about how to “STAND”. Why do we need to know how to stand? Because in today’s world, standing for truth can have its dangers. You might not be executed if you are fortunate enough to live in the West. But you could lose your job, your friends, or be outright hated and persecuted.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.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 evilin the heavenly realms.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. 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.
Our battle is not against people. It’s against the devil and his demonic forces. Our only weapon is the Word of God, the Truth. But to stand against the devil’s schemes, we have been given “the armor of God”. Our faith (trust in God and His might) is our Shield.
Ultimately, spiritual warfare is not about a technique to battle demons. It is proclaiming God’s Word in a world under Satanic deception to a people who walk in darkness.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus (John 8:12 NIV)
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“… the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 AMP
Comments: False religion and secular philosophy have created thinking that has imprisoned the minds of millions. It is a true spiritual battle…Those who know the truth must confront error with the weapon we’ve been given, the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. GotQuestions.org
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Has God put a desire in your heart? Has He made it so crystal-clear that you know for sure it came from Him?
Did things go great at first, but then problems started to arise? If things don’t go the way you expect, don’t begin to doubt what you first believed. Do not doubt yourself and your ability to accomplish the task.
Remember: God never does things the way we think He will. Just because problems arise doesn’t mean we should give up. In fact, I think it would be safe to say, problems will definitely arise!
Nehemiah spoke about “what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.”(Nehemiah 2:12)
God put it in Nehemiah’s heart to rebuild Jerusalem. Do you think he may have run into a few problems? Of course he did!
We are instructed to learn from the past. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 NIV
When God puts it in our heart to do something, we can expect a spiritual battle to be right around the corner.
At first, everything happened quickly and easily for Nehemiah. The king granted all of his requests: letters to the various governors to provide safe travel and permission to take lumber from the king’s forest. The king even sent army officers and cavalry along with him on his journey to Jerusalem.
When Nehemiah asked the people to take on the great challenge to rebuild the wall, they enthusiastically agreed. They “worked with all their heart” (Nehemiah 4:6) and repaired the walls. Things were going great!
Then opposition began. The people were ridiculed mercilessly. “What are those feeble Jews doing? (Nehemiah 4:2) The enemy will always attack you personally. Who do you think you are? You can’t do that!
The enemies plotted together to stir up trouble. The strength of the laborers began to give out. What they started doing with all their heart, they began to doubt their ability to accomplish. They began to fear their enemies. (See Nehemiah 4:10-12)
Does any of this sound familiar? Because this is exactly how things work today! Be encouraged because things are right on track.
When the enemy came against them, “Each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked.” Nehemiah 4:18
When spiritual forces come against us, we must take up the Sword of the Spirit as we work. What does that mean for us? The Word of God and prayer are our weapons against the enemy.
By staying in the Word, we can hear the voice of God. Through prayer, we commune with the Almighty, which is intimate communication and the sharing of thoughts.
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword…” Hebrews 4:12
“Take ..the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God … and pray” Ephesians 6:17-18
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” 1 Peter 4:12
Is my faith being tested? Will I still believe what God has said when the enemy comes against me? Am I trying to accomplish something in my own strength? Or am I trusting Him to do it, knowing that my part is obedience?
Paul said, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” Philippians 1:6 NIV
Put your trust in God, pray and read the Word. Now carry on, Christian Soldier!
Read about Nehemiah’s determination to rebuild Jerusalem in the book of Nehemiah.
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
” …whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV
When my mind barrages me with thoughts from my past, I recite this verse. His Word is my weapon against the enemy.
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
“When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army.He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”Deuteronomy 20:1-4 NIV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
Whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, if you’re a child of God you know that the chaos we are experiencing in our world is the assault of the enemy.
FACT 1:“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.” Ephesians 6:12 NIV
Although we tend to try to fight these spiritual battles in the flesh (i.e. Facebook posts, Instagram, Twitter, etc.), the only real victory will come through using our spiritual weapons.
The good news is this: We have been given the armor and weapons we need to fight the fight. Don’t give up in exasperation.
FACT 2: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground,”Ephesians 6:13
This is the time to think about and meditate on the full armor of God, what it means, and make sure we are wearing it every day.
FACT 3: “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. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.“Ephesians 6:14-17
Let’s Break It Down:
Belt of Truth: God’s Word is truth. Victory in spiritual warfare starts with truth. His Word is Truth and that’s where we’ll find answers.
Breastplate of Righteousness: Our righteousness comes from Christ and it protects our heart. May God create a tender heart in all of us.
Feet fitted with the Readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace: We cannot fight with arguments or violence. Our readiness to fight spiritual battles comes through the Gospel of Peace.
The Shield of Faith: The soldier’s leather-covered shield was sometimes soaked in water to extinguish flaming arrows. Likewise, our faith in God’s Word destroys the schemes of Satan.
The Helmet of Salvation: The Helmet protected the soldier’s head. Since the primary battlefield in spiritual warfare is the Christian’s mind, the helmet of salvation protects us against the lies Satan uses to attack our minds.
The Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: This is our one offensive weapon. Interestingly, the Greek word translated “word” here is rhema. It refers to a particular saying of God that has special application for a given situation, whereas logos, also translated “word” in other texts, refers to the Bible as a whole. Jesus fought the devil saying, “It is written …” See Matthew 4: 1-11 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4%3A1-11&version=NIV
“The Bible as a whole is an armory from which to select swords for specific battles. Jesus illustrated the use of the “rhema of God” in his victory over Satan in the wilderness.”
David Jeremiah Study Bible Notes (p. 1645)
The command: “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.” Ephesians 6:18
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives ,,,” 1 Timothy 2:1-2
We must pray for our country, our leaders, and our neighbors with confidence and boldness. It is the Lord’s command to pray for and love our neighbor. It’s what He wants us to do in response to current events. We must be obedient. We must banish thoughts that it “won’t do any good anyway.” That’s the lie of the devil. Put on your “helmet”!
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Army of the Lord, We know what we’re up against (spiritual forces of evil) and we know what to do about it (pray). Do it now!
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
12 …we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel … 15 He said: “Listen! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. …
21 … Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army … 22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against (the enemies) who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. (from 2 Chronicles 20:12-22 NIV) Read the whole passage here:https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+chronicles+20%3A12-22&version=NIV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
Has God put a desire in your heart? Has He made it so crystal-clear that you know for sure it came from Him?
Did things go great at first, but then problems started to arise? If things don’t go the way you expect, don’t begin to doubt what you first believed. Do not doubt yourself and your ability to accomplish the task.
Remember: God never does things the way we think He will. Just because problems arise doesn’t mean we should give up. In fact, I think it would be safe to say, problems will definitely arise!
Nehemiah spoke about “what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.”(Nehemiah 2:12)
God put it in Nehemiah’s heart to rebuild Jerusalem. Do you think he may have run into a few problems? Of course he did!
We are instructed to learn from the past. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 NIV
When God puts it in our heart to do something, we can expect a spiritual battle to be right around the corner.
At first, everything happened quickly and easily for Nehemiah. The king granted all of his requests: letters to the various governors to provide safe travel and permission to take lumber from the king’s forest. The king even sent army officers and cavalry along with him on his journey to Jerusalem.
When Nehemiah asked the people to take on the great challenge to rebuild the wall, they enthusiastically agreed. They “worked with all their heart” (Nehemiah 4:6) and repaired the walls. Things were going great!
Then opposition began. The people were ridiculed mercilessly. “What are those feeble Jews doing? (Nehemiah 4:2) The enemy will always attack you personally. Who do you think you are? You can’t do that!
The enemies plotted together to stir up trouble. The strength of the laborers began to give out. What they started doing with all their heart, they began to doubt their ability to accomplish. They began to fear their enemies. (See Nehemiah 4:10-12)
Does any of this sound familiar? Because this is exactly how things work today! Be encouraged because things are right on track.
When the enemy came against them, “Each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked.” Nehemiah 4:18
When spiritual forces come against us, we must take up the Sword of the Spirit as we work. What does that mean for us? The Word of God and prayer are our weapons against the enemy.
By staying in the Word, we can hear the voice of God. Through prayer, we commune with the Almighty, which is intimate communication and the sharing of thoughts.
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword…” Hebrews 4:12
“Take ..the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God … and pray” Ephesians 6:17-18
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” 1 Peter 4:12
Is my faith being tested? Will I still believe what God has said when the enemy comes against me? Am I trying to accomplish something in my own strength? Or am I trusting Him to do it, knowing that my part is obedience?
Paul said, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” Philippians 1:6 NIV
Put your trust in God, pray and read the Word. Now carry on, Christian Soldier!
Read about Nehemiah’s determination to rebuild Jerusalem in the book of Nehemiah.
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
Real Christian Women 