We live in a fallen world so life will at times be naturally hard. But, when accompanied by confusion and events that just don’t make sense, it could be more than human depravity at work. We ourselves can be the source of our own troubles. Yet, sometimes we can’t identify anything we have done wrong. While we could be experiencing trials from the Lord to make us better, it could be an attack from the evil one to discourage us.
When asked what to do in the midst of spiritual battles, I cannot give an approach that fits all situations. But, I can provide some principles from God’s Word that do apply no matter what the circumstances might be.
Remember These Biblical Principles in the Midst of Spiritual Battles:
1) Always remember that this is not your battle to fight but the Lord’s.
You need to constantly turn to Him, being sure to take hold of all HIS armor listed in Ephesians 6. You can do walks around the neighborhood claiming it for Christ, anoint your home with oil, and many other things people sometimes do in these kinds of situations but if God’s mighty power is not behind it, it will be to no avail.
“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.” (Eph. 6:10-11)
2) Remember who the battle is with so you use the right tactics.
Though there may be some disruptive people in the equation, the real battle line is spiritual. Keep that perspective. “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.” (Eph. 6:12) Though the enemy is strong, “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 Jn. 4:4). We can win the battle against this enemy but only with divine intervention. — “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 Cor. 10:4-5)
3) Keep on praying.
You cannot let down your guard. Remember what Jesus told His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane — “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41). “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Pet. 5:7-8) — And, seek the prayer of others on your behalf. — “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.” (Eph. 6:18)
4) Never stray from the Word of God.
Anything you do must always line up with and be filtered through the grid of God’s Word. Think about when the devil came to tempt Jesus. Each time, Jesus used the Word as His sword — “It is written” (Matt. 4:1-11). The defensive weapon listed in the armor of God that we are to take up and use is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).
5) Keep going back to the cross and the shed blood of Jesus as your source of victory.
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:57) At the cross Jesus conquered sin, death, and the devil. Satan will not admit defeat but will one day meet his final judgment. Though this evil one may seem to win some skirmishes, He will not win the war. Jesus is our reigning conqueror. His death on the cross secured the victory!
6) Rest in God’s grace and the promise of His restoration even when you don’t see an end in sight.
The Apostle Paul described a battle he faced having been “given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me” (2 Cor. 12:7). Though He prayed, it did not go away. He took solace in what the Lord told Him — “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” and was then able to say, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Cor. 12:9). — “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Pet. 5:10-11)
Thanks for these Biblical reminders of how to stay the course in the midst of spiritual adversity!
You are welcome, Deb. Sometimes the victory in spiritual adversity isn’t about making great advancements but that we are able to keep standing, or “stay the course” as you wrote. –“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” (Eph. 6:13).
This is Kathy. I sent a cry for help back in nov 2015 and u redirected me to this platform. Things are worse. However, i was shown that my weaknesses are my strengths today. Such tricks,deceit,illusions,etc have been laid before me. Are people like me just damaged souls from lifelong abuse and lack of love and attention?
I am alone here. I am looking for a tree with good fruits to help me. I have had a suicide (respitory failure) last november. No empathy from anyone. That was especially strange from the medical staff.
Anyway, I am sending up s.o.s.’s to the universe. I am here and I need help. The mail is being tampered from religious senders. Please pray for me.
Hello, Kathy. I am so sorry to read that things have gotten worse. Yet, I am glad to read that you have seen that your “weaknesses” can be used for good. In response to your question, — we are all damaged souls, sometimes just in different ways, to different extents, and because of different things. That is why we all need Jesus to extend His grace and mercy to us.
When Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28), He didn’t say it would be a one time cure. Usually, we need to keep coming back to Him again and again. The more we’ve experienced what you wrote of — “lifelong abuse and lack of love and attention” — the harder it can be to trust someone, even Jesus, to truly be there for us. But, when we take the risk and put our trust in Him, we find what He says in the next couple of verses to be true, that He is “gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29-30). But, we tend to forget and soon find ourselves anxious and in despair again. So, we need to turn back to Him again. As we keep turning back to Him again and again, He remains faithful, always there for us. Our confidence in Him builds and while life still hurts, people still disappoint, and circumstances aren’t always the best, we can be at peace in our soul.
Those are just a few thoughts but really, this is beyond the scope of what can be discussed in a blog. Let me recommend you seek out a pastor from a local church who loves the Lord and abides by His Word or perhaps a Christian counselor. All you wrote is something that you would benefit from ongoing person-to-person contact with someone to help you process it. There isn’t a quick fix answer. But, I do believe God can help you rise above as you apply the principles in this post.
And, yes, we will pray for you because God does care. Even when we don’t sense His presence in our lives because of all the muck blocking our view, He is there waiting for us to come to Him.
It is June 2020. I am here despite my house being burnt down and three subsequent hospitalizations. My relationship with Jesus is solid. I am surrounded by a gang of demons, that situation is still ever present. Pray for me as I pray for everyone. Thanks so much. Kathy
Praise God, Kathy, for a solid relationship with the Lord. It’s difficult to imagine going through all this without the Lord. May you “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” as you put on His armor (Eph. 6). He will help you apply the principles in this post. We will certainly take time to pray for you “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” (Eph. 6:12).
Please pray for me and my family. We feel hindering and me in spiritual path.
Stany, we will take time to pray for you and your family. Right in the context of Ephesians 6 which deals with putting on the armor of God so we can stand in the midst of spiritual battles, we read “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.” (Eph. 6:18)
I thank the Lord for this powerful message it did made me stronger and raise hope in my life, surely I will take it and spread it to others
Maxwell Magangeni, we certainly can find hope and strength when we grasp these truths because “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Cor. 10:4)