Enemy

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

The enemy is subtle in his schemes, and many times we are deceived by looking at people or circumstances from the natural level and perceive issues from a carnal perspective. However, spiritual battles come in different shapes and forms. I shared in the last devotional that we need to be mindful of how we process and perceive information on a regular basis. Anytime, we believe the lie of the enemy about ourselves or others, we open the door to him to defeat us by causing hurt, anxiety, or division. 

Another area that requires attention in respect to spiritual battles is the voice of the culture and its impact on our value system. Many believers think that the world does not have influence on them, but when they come under pressure or disappointment, those deep-seated values come to the surface! If their values are rooted in the Kingdom, the voice of the world does not move them easily. On the other hand, if they are double-minded, they fall prey to their own desires, others’ views of them, and the perception of the world around them in their moment of need and vulnerability. 

What happens when we are not received by others? What is our response or reaction when we have opposition like Daniel did? What happens when our work is not appreciated or acknowledged as we hoped for? What happens when we don’t receive the reward of our hard work?  How we act or react to those situations, clarifies how successful we are in fighting the spiritual battles.

For decades Christians were taught that walking with Jesus is all about the person’s happiness. They were not told that it will cost them something. If we want to walk with God, things are not always going to go our way or in our timing. In those times, do we still believe that God is still working out a good plan in our lives? If we don’t believe that truth, we will walk in our carnal nature and try to fix it like we used to before we knew Christ.

Walking with God, also means sometimes people are not going to be happy with us because we have a standard of holiness. Joseph was falsely accused and lost his position because he cared more about pleasing God than pleasing Pharaoh’s wife. Are we willing to pay the price of integrity and not compromise our relationship with God in order to receive the favor of man!? When we understand that there is a cost to following Jesus, we are more resilient. We are able to be stronger in fighting spiritual battles, and we don’t allow the enemy to manipulate us through compromise, disappointment, or disillusionment.

Spend some time with the Lord this week. Thank Him for who He is and what He has done in your life. Prepare yourself spiritually for all the upcoming celebrations and family visits.