If you have been a Christian for any length of time you know that we have an enemy, the devil. He tries to deceive and hinder us in our everyday life. Before we surrendered to Christ, he influenced our lives.
“You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature, we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.”
(Ephesians 2:2) Satan is on the prowl “ Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (I Peter 5:8.) As Christians, Satan is ready for us to mess up our testimony for Christ. He does not want God’s will to prevail, so he attacks Christians to impede the will of God for that person. Ultimately, we know that Satan can never interfere with God’s ultimate plan.
Because we are fighting a spiritual battle, God has provided spiritual armor to defend ourselves. Ephesian 6:10-18 list the pieces of God’s armor. The belt of truth, the body armor of God’s righteousness, shoes of peace, shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit- the Word of God. All of the armor listed except for the sword of the spirit is to defend us as we stand firm. The truth of God, His righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are elements that if we stand firm, we can endure the trials life brings. The only offensive weapon is the sword. As we stand firm, we are to willed the sword – God’s Word every time the devil tries to attack us with he lies and deceit.
Every day we should suit up with the Word of God and stand firm with God by our side. When the battle gets, rough God is with us in the thick of the darts. That is why studying God’s Word is so important to combat the lies Satan will throw at you each day. Let’s not forget prayer in verse 18 of Ephesians 6. “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert in your prayers for all believers” Prayer is also an offensive weapon. As we use the Word of God, we pray that God keeps us on firm ground to resist the lies of the devil.
As a Christian, I am so humbled by God’s provision in my life. When I study the Bible and see His mercy and grace for me, I am grateful. Living in this world is not easy. Many obstacles can hinder us from fulfilling God’s will for our lives. When we know who our enemy is and know how to enter the battle, we can be assured that God will stand with us on the battlefield.
