Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:9
Earlier this year, two of my dear friends, Sandra and Amanda, led our ladies group at Blue Ridge View Baptist Church through Priscilla Shirer’s Bible Study: The Armor of God. If you have not been through this wonderful study of Ephesians 6:10-18, I highly recommend it. http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-armor-of-God-bible-study-book-P005727075
The study reminded me of truths that I know well, but somehow I often seem to forget. While I live in a constant battle with an enemy that seeks to destroy me and all that I hold dear, I am not defenseless. While I am no match for Satan, he is no match for God. As God’s child, I can choose to take up His Armor daily and fight back.
Satan has had thousands of years to study us. We have not had that advantage. And though times have changed, the things that are important to us have not changed. Our relationships. Our spouses. Our children. Our hopes. Our dreams. Our resolve. He targets our minds. His weapons are his enticements and his lies. His motive is to turn us away from the path of God’s truth. The devil knows just how to bring us down. Or so he thinks.
God has other plans though and He does not want us to live our lives in spiritual defeat. He is just a prayer away all the time. His Armor includes lots of defensive pieces for us—the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation. There is one in the arsenal that is offensive, the Sword of the Spirit—the inspired, infallible Word of God. It is how we know God’s truth. And the truth shall make us free! Beth Moore says, “The Son of God saved my soul, and the Word of God saved my mind.” Boy, can I relate to that!
During the hardest times in my life, I have found comfort and strength to go on to fight one more day in the pages of my Bible. There are many scriptures to help us with spiritual warfare, but there are some that are especially dear to me that were given to me by a preacher quite a few years ago. I have read them over and over through some dark valleys in my life, and they have encouraged me more than I can say. I wanted to share them for someone who might need them today:
Philippians 1:6, Philippians 4:8, Psalm 23, Psalm 91, 1 Peter 5:8-11
Fight on! We are warriors and we don’t give up and we don’t back down!
If you have scriptures to encourage others in their battle, please share them in comments below. Thank you for reading and sharing my post.
Dear Lord: Thank you that You provide us with the tools to have spiritual victory over Satan. We praise You that we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus and that there is NOTHING that can separate us from Your love. Amen