Prepared for What?
It appears you are under attack from the devil, everything is just going wrong. Oh my God! You feel like the whole world is against you and you just cannot get a break. You feel surrounded on every side. It is as if the whole host of hell has been let loose against you and you are experiencing attack, after attack!
What can you do? How do you overcome this situation? Is it just a feeling or is it real? How can you come out on top and be better prepared next time?
You must trust in the word of God regardless of how you feel. Your reaction must be to focus on God’s power to deliver you and not on your own strength. The Bible states, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6: 12)
As a believer, you will face spiritual battles in your walk with God. This is to be expected. If you lack knowledge of the word of God, if you are naïve, if you are in denial about the existence of the devil and spiritual warfare, or if you are unprepared, the devil and his minions will make light work of you. They will overrun you. They will massacre you. We must read our Bibles frequently to become acquainted with God’s word so we can use it against the devil when he pursues and attacks us.
The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 -10 – that our adversary the devil is like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. It further tells us to resist him and stand firm in our faith and that we should be aware that Christian believers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of attacks and sufferings. Verse 10 gives us the assurance that after this type of suffering, the God of grace who called us to His eternal glory in Christ, will restore us and make us strong, firm, and steadfast. Christians need to engage in Bible study, prayer, and fasting to successfully resist Satan.
Satan was bold enough to try to tempt Jesus. He tried not once but three times to get Jesus to yield to him. Matthew 4:1-11 gives an account of his barefaced attempts. If he tried to take down Jesus, do you believe that he would not be seeking after Jesus’ followers? That’s you, me, and every other believer in the Lord Jesus Christ! The Bible, however, teaches not to fear, but to be prepared.
Know Your Enemy
The fight is real and to have the victory we must know who we are fighting. We should have the mindset that we are not fighting people, we are fighting the spirit that is in them and controlling their minds. To think that the physical people in front of us are the real enemy would be a mistake and can cause you to use the wrong strategies. Ephesians 6:12 has made it clear who the real enemies are, and it is not flesh and blood. Let’s take a closer look at what this means.
Principalities – means the cultures that govern people, towns, or cities.
Powers – the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the courses of events.
Rulers of Darkness of this World – These rulers of darkness are individuals under the influence of the devil, who are in positions of leadership or influence and practice spiritual wickedness.
Prepare for Victory When Spiritual Warfare is Being Waged Against You
First, you must pray. In your prayer, acknowledge exactly how you feel and ask the Lord to help you overcome your feeling of despair. He may do it immediately or overtime but never stop praying and believing regardless of how you feel.
Now, this is very important. You must remember that you are in a spiritual war with the devil who is trying to take control of your mind, to cause you to lose hope and walk away from the Lord, however, that should not be your reaction. Never, never give up.
An Analogy: Why We Should Not Fear the Enemy or Give Up
American author, evangelist, Christian media personality, motivational speaker, and actress, Priscilla Shirer, in speaking to a group of college students, shared a story about how just before a baseball game, her son was walking past a team that had badly defeated his team. She explained that his demeanor changed when he saw them. He seemed less confident, and it showed in his walk and the way he held his head, a member of that team leaned over and spoke with admiration to his teammate about a play her son had made in a previous game, and he heard. She said her son’s whole demeanor changed. The pep in his step returned and he held his head higher. He apparently realized that the opponent admired and possibly feared him, so he didn’t need to be afraid of facing them. The enemy wants us to be fearful and distracted, but he knows that Jesus has already defeated him on our behalf. It is up to us to make sure that we are prepared to face him so that when he does, he will be defeated and will flee from us, so let’s remind ourselves about the armour we need to put on.
Put on Your Complete Armor to Win Each Battle and the War
To eventually have the victory and completely change your approach and your life you must put on “the whole armor of God.” The phrase “the whole armor of God” comes from Ephesians 6:10-18, where the apostle Paul instructs Christians to be strong in the Lord and to stand against the schemes of the devil. He then lists seven pieces of armor that believers should wear: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit and prayer.
To put on the whole armor of God means to apply these spiritual realities to our lives and to rely on them in our daily battles against sin and temptation. It means to live in the truth of God’s word, to pursue holiness and integrity, to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others, to trust God’s promises and power, to rejoice in our salvation and hope, and to wield the word of God as a weapon against the lies and accusations of the enemy.
Putting on the full armor of God is not a one-time act, but a continual process of growth and maturity in Christ. It requires prayer, study, obedience, and dependence on the Holy Spirit. It also involves recognizing our weaknesses and vulnerability and seeking God’s help and protection. It also means knowing that you are not helpless and that you have been given the power to defeat the enemy. As we put on the whole armor of God, we can resist the devil and stand firm in our faith. We need to have a firm mindset that with the Lord on our side victory is guaranteed.
To put on the whole armor of God means to live in the power and protection of everything that God has done for us in Christ. It is a way of resisting the devil’s schemes and standing firm in our faith. The Bible describes six (6) pieces of armor that we can wear spiritually:
One of the most powerful metaphors in the Bible is the image of the Christian as a soldier who puts on the whole armor of God. But what does it mean to put on the whole armor of God? And what are the different pieces of armor that cover the vital organs of the soldier’s body?
– The belt of truth: The belt was a vital part of the Roman soldier’s equipment, as it held his tunic together and supported his sword and other weapons. The belt of truth represents our commitment to honesty and integrity, as well as our adherence to God’s word. It helps us to avoid deception and hypocrisy and to stand firm in what we believe.
– The breastplate of righteousness: The breastplate was a piece of armor that protected the soldier’s chest, where his heart and lungs were located. The breastplate of righteousness represents our moral purity and obedience to God’s commands. It helps us to guard our hearts from sin and temptation, and to live in a way that pleases God.
– The shoes of readiness: The shoes were essential for the soldier’s mobility and stability, as they enabled him to march long distances and to stand firm on any terrain. The shoes of readiness represent our readiness to share the gospel of peace with others, as well as our peace with God and with ourselves. They help us to walk in God’s will and to stand firm in his grace.
– The shield of faith: The shield was a large and sturdy piece of equipment that covered most of the soldier’s body. It was used to deflect arrows and other projectiles that were thrown or shot at him. The shield of faith represents our trust in God’s promises and power, as well as our protection from the attacks of the enemy. It helps us to quench the fiery darts of doubt, fear, and accusation that Satan throws at us. It is believing and doing the word of GOD.
– The helmet of salvation: The helmet was a piece of armour that protected the soldier’s head, where his brain was located. The helmet of salvation represents our assurance of salvation and our hope in Christ. It helps us to protect our minds from doubt, despair, and distraction, and to focus on our eternal destiny. We must believe and know that we are saved regardless of our circumstances.
– The sword of the Spirit: The sword was the only offensive weapon in the soldier’s arsenal. It was used to strike and wound the enemy in close combat. The sword of the Spirit represents the word of God, which is sharper than any double-edged sword. It helps us to fight against the enemy with God’s truth and wisdom, and to expose his lies and schemes.
Prayer is also an important weapon and means of protection for Christians. We are to pray without ceasing. We should pray for ourselves, our: family, relatives, friends, colleagues, community, country, leaders, and the church.
Praying for Success
As Christians, we are called to pray for all people, especially for our fellow believers. Prayer is a powerful weapon that can bring God’s will and blessing to the church. But how can we pray effectively for the church? Here are some biblical principles to guide us:
Pray always, pray in the Spirit, pray with perseverance, and pray with supplication. This shows how vital prayer is in our lives, we must face our daily battles with prayer which will uplift our spirit and help to fortify our internal resolve.
To put on the whole armor of God means to appropriate each piece by faith and prayer, and to use them daily in our spiritual battles. It also means to depend on God’s strength and not on our own, as Paul says in verse 10: “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” By putting on the whole armor of God, we can resist the devil, stand firm in our faith, and advance God’s kingdom.