Going on the Offensive
What if we took seriously that we live in a spiritual world? What we see, hear, and touch is not the ultimate reality. It’s not the physical that’s most real; it’s the spiritual. In fact, our entire being is more spiritual than physical. We are body, yes, but also soul and spirit.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
If our very essence is so obviously entwined with the spiritual world, why do we not take it more seriously? It is my belief that it is because we don’t take the spiritual as seriously as we should, that we more often fall into temptation and are rendered useless for the kingdom of God. If we started taking the spiritual more seriously, do you think that maybe we wouldn’t only be on the defensive? Maybe we could start taking offense. Maybe, just maybe, we’d start seeing serious life change in ourselves. Maybe we’d start seeing and hearing God often in our daily lives. Maybe, just maybe, we’d start seeing God move in our own circles of influence.
Paul writes much about spiritual warfare, but in Ephesians 6, he gives specific tools to combat the spiritual realm. In verse 11 Paul tells us to Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
We see first that we are to stand firm. We are to take a defensive stance. We are to arm ourselves with a belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, and helmet. These are all defensive tools used to protect ourselves from the devil’s schemes. But then Paul switches gears and tells us to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit (v 17&18).
We are given two very specific tools, not just for defense, but for attacks too.
The sword of the Spirit is the word of God. To be able to defend AND attack, we must know God’s word. We must spend time sharpening our sword daily. We cannot allow our sword to get rusty and dull. What good is a dull sword when storming a stronghold? God gave us all we need to know about life and how to live a life worth living in the Bible. How can we tap into the encouragement, assurance, conviction, and wisdom we need if we are not daily reading and studying what He says?
Prayer is our direct access to our Commander in Chief. If we want to know our marching orders, we look to our King. He alone is our strength and salvation. If we don’t pray, we are like an army with their communication lines cut off. They don’t know where to attack or where the attack is coming from. We can’t afford not to pray.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
So now that we know we need to sharpen our sword daily and keep in communication with our King, how do we do that in this busy physical world?
I have two toddlers I stay at home with, am self-employed in two side businesses, and am director of a women’s ministry. I am not perfect, but I know if I don’t make my time with God a priority, I am compromising not only my own relationship with God, but also my marriage, my kids’ spiritual wellbeing, my friendships, and my testimony and spiritual influence. I am in a season of life in which getting up earlier than my three-nager means she’ll somehow sense someone is up and come find me. I am also in a season of life where staying up late ends with me falling asleep mid-sentence. And so, I pick a time during my day that should be quieter, and I tell my kids that I am spending time with God, so it is quiet hour. This is rarely a perfect quiet hour, sometimes the girls get a little more screen time than I’d really like and dishes get left in the sink longer than ideal, but I do what I need to do to get that time with my Adonai. This is still a work in progress for me, but I hope it is an encouragement to you that you can do what you need to do in order to prioritize your relationship with God.
Once you have begun prioritizing this spiritual discipline, I would encourage you to start a prayer journal. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but anytime someone asks for prayer or God lays something on your heart to pray for, write it down. Then go back through and pray over what you have written. When God points out a specific verse to you, write it down and pray it back to Him. If you have kids, pray over them when you check on them after they’re asleep or at their doors before you go to bed. Before you close your eyes at night and when you get up in the morning, pray over your spouse and for yourself.
Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
We are spiritual beings, living in a very spiritual world, in the midst of a violent spiritual war. Are you properly equipping yourself to fight the battle God has called you to?
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57