Spiritual Warfare
The battle is real. So what are you doing each day to ready yourself for spiritual victory?
Did you know that the devil is the ringleader and instigator of personal rebellion, disorder, and chaos? He is behind the misinformation, deception, self-promotion, and prejudice that is so widespread in our society (Proverbs 12:5).
Most people think of the devil as a fictitious character. If you are a Christian, you’re taught that the devil is a fallen angel and the personification of evil and author of sin. He was expelled from heaven before the material world was created and is in constant opposition to God (Revelation 12:7–9). He rebelled against God in order to try to become His equal (Isaiah 14:13–14).
The devil is an expert manipulator. He’s mastered the art of getting the folks that are ruled by their emotions to indulge in pity parties, the blame game, and self-destructive behavior. He also is the one who tries to convince you that you not responsible for your choices, that someone owes you because you are a victim. He does this by trying to persuade you that you’ve been wronged. He particularly likes to take aim at the younger generation by inebriating them with the seeds of comparison, which provoke jealousy and anger. This is what you call spiritual warfare!
Why does the devil do this? Because he likes to see people suffer. People who look backward for someone to blame for where they are, get stuck. That is how a growing sense of lack and eventually a personal identity crisis takes hold. The devil wants to destroy you. Wicked people are like that. Have you ever met a bully or a person that is controlling? Usually, they are hurting and want others to hurt like they are. The Bible says that the wicked “lie in wait for blood” (Proverbs 12:6 NKJV). The devil will try to convince you that your growing sense of lack is not your fault. That someone has done you wrong and that none of what you are feeling is your fault—the way you are feeling. If you believe someone outside of you is to blame for how your life is turning out, you will stay stuck and be unable to create real change.
The devil would be out of a job if people stopped seeing themselves as victims and took responsibility for their choices, including their proclivity to look in the rearview mirror and not let go of past hurts. A victim is like a coal-burning fireplace. To keep the fire burning you have to keep feeding it with hot coals, aka find fresh enemies or people to blame for your lot in life.
If you’ve been mired in self-pity or the blame game, lacking personal responsibility for your life and choices, be on your guard. You are in dangerous territory.
People who are experiencing a whole host of issues: temptation, anger, addictions, depression, anxiety, indecision, and fear-based, self-limiting, self-sabotaging thought programs, are right where Satan wants them.
There is only one way to defend yourself and protect yourself against the devil. And that is with the Holy Spirit being present and active in your life (Isaiah 59:19; Ephesians 1:14). Being diligent in protecting yourself against the devil’s persistent intrusions into your life involves participation on your part. It takes both divine and human action to create real, transformational healing and change.
No matter where you are at in life, what you’ve done, or what has happened to you, a new way of life is waiting for you. You just need to decide if you are ready to get well.
“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you” (Joshua 1:5).
