Let’s talk Spiritual Warfare

          Let’s talk spiritual warfare. Basically spiritual warfare is the good vs evil. The right vs wrong (and this can include anything: physically, mentally, emotionally) I have been dealing with spiritual warfare for quite sometime. It’s not a subject that is often talked about, so here I am to talk about it. The devil often puts thoughts in our head to make us doubt ourselves, abilities, purpose, faith. He is the prince of deception.

           The LORD never tells us we won’t be tempted. He does tell us in Galatians 6, “But watch yourselves, or you may also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1) He is telling us if we have a friend stuck in sin, the Spirit should restore that person gently, but to make sure we are not tempted also. When reading & studying spiritual warfare, I came across a verse (or really even the whole chapter is GOOOOOODDDDD) but that is in the book of James. I have never really read James until this week studying, but you should see the markings in my Bible in James 1. The first heading in the book of James is “Trials and Temptations.” How convenient. So in James 1, the Word tells us to consider trials we face is PURE JOY!  Like What? I had never thought about temptations and trials we face like that. We should consider our trials as pure joy because “Testing of your faith produces perseverance.” Mic drop. Boom. The blog should be said and done, but it’s not. I have more. James also tells us that temptation does not come from God. “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.” (James 1:13) 

               We’ve all heard the saying, “God turns a mess into a message, a test into a testimony, a trial into a triumph, and a victim into a victory,” right? Well James 1:12 says “Blessed is the one who preservers under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” BLESSED is the one who perseveres under trial! To me this is saying God allows things to happen to us, whether it be good or bad, it is used for His glory. You never know, your trial that you faced could be the reason somebody found the Lord. We are not here to curse God and question God over everything that happens in our lives. We are here to walk through life & bring people closer to Jesus. 

              The Bible describes the devil as “a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) If you keep reading into verse 9, it says “Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” (1 Peter 5:9) God knows we will be tempted, but He gives us EVERY resource to resist that temptation. The Bible, church, prayer, people in our lives, all those are components to fighting temptation & spiritual warfare. In Ephesians 6, we see the Armor of God. We are supposed to take up the Armor of God to stand against the devil. “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 snd 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 6:11-12). 

          Notice how in verse 11, it says the FULL ARMOR OF GOD? It doesn’t just say okay so put on the belt & breastplate & sword & you should be good. You would have forgotten the helmet & the shield. You are not protected from the devil’s schemes unless you have the full armor. This includes: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:14-17)  

The Lord doesn’t say we won’t be tempted, but He does give us all the resources to fight it. Learn your resources and how to use them. Xoxo