I’ve just discovered this year that as a Believer, clearly understanding what it is, how to identify it and how to battle is critical to winning problems, setbacks, dellimas, issues, challenges, frustrations and beyond in this life! (All that in a single breath!)
I’ve experienced many growing pains as I implement the principles but it’s all good! My flesh shall come under subjection while my spirit man takes its rightful position!
Pastor Mary Cooper is my Spiritual Mother and advisor. I am blessed to be a co-host next to her and Pastor Judy Shipley on our Church’s internet talk show – Straight Talk for Women Only. Last month, Pastor Mary went solo and taught a powerful message on Spiritual Warfare that is life changing!!!
I invite and challenge you to review this teaching and begin to implement it’s instructions in your walk with God. I promise you will never be the same!
Blessings and Happy Sunday!
Straight Talk for Women only airs the 1st Thursday of every month at 6 pm EST. Access live and archive shows by visiting http://www.stfwo.com.
Sponsored by Victory Christian Fellowship in New Castle Delaware
I don’t know how I’m going to make it and I get frustrated sometimes! Can I just be REAL!! As a believer, as a child of God and yes as a woman with a measure of Faith that God is for me, at times everything still feels unsure and questionable!!
I started this blog because I needed a place that I could express my RealBoldTruth as a Believer! This Walk with Christ can at times be grueling. It’s not my temperament to be some preachy teachy Christian as if I got it all together! I clearly don’t and not afraid or ashamed to admit this!
I’ve run across so many that fall under this definition and the earthly good aspect just escapes me at times! This can’t be more true especially since I’ve deserted being a Holy Roller for the sake of being a relatable representative of the Gospel! Tell it like it is while fighting Spiritual Warfare by Faith. Is it spiritually logical to do both? I believe so; it’s REAL, its BOLD and its TRUTH! Im still working out the balance!
Fact is at times:
I don’t feel confident!
I don’t know why I’m doing what I’m doing!
I feel like I’m wasting my time and should just go back to doing what felt certain!
I feel like I’m portraying to be somebody that I’m clearly NOT!
I am uncomfortably vulnerable and wonder if God knows that!
Readers, you all are my public diary of sorts so thank you for entertaining my Rant!
So now on to my counter reaction and my Praise!
My most important fact above all is:
I’m crazy in love with my Heavenly Father, His Sacrifice and His Word.
I am absolutely insane and nobody without His covering, protection and instruction.
All of my blessings come from The Lord Most High for apart from Him I can do nothing.
In Him I have the power to stand, endure, and rise above the tricks of the enemy!
Anybody with me on this crazy concoction of emotions which are clearly an Oxymoron? Please say I’m not alone! Is this even possible? Oxymoron Indeed!
Whew!! Felt good to get that out; now back to Patience and Faith before My Hope deferred gets the best of me! Can’t have that…..now can we!
Until my next R&P along my journey of growing up in the things of God, Blessing!!!
Recognizing spiritual attacks when they come against us is a must for The Body of Christ. Knowing how to respond to them effectively is even more crucial.
Scripture says we do not fight against flesh and blood but against the powers and rulers of darkness. (Ephesians 6:12) To break this scripture down in lay terms means that we can’t win the battles in our lives by what we physically see. We must fight Satan himself! Here are a few examples of fighting with our flesh against what we see:
Yelling at our children when they rebel repeatedly.
Combatting verbally and physically with our spouses when we hit tough spots in our marriages.
Plotting against our bosses and co-workers when they become unreasonable or unfair.
Stop speaking to our friends, associates or church family when they don’t conduct themselves as we feel they should.
Looking down on our neighbors when they cause offense.
There are many more but I trust by now that you get the picture. These fights break out and reek havoc amongst those matters we care for the most. This is especially true regarding our health and finances.
A natural first level of defense when we have trouble in these areas is to respond with our flesh. We yell, get mad, worry, feel defeated, complain, seek revenge, give up or do things we may later regret. When this happens we give our power to the enemy allowing him to win!
Satan, The enemy and adversary of our Lord and those who believe in Him constantly roams the earth seeking whom he may devour. (1st part of John 10:10) You can’t see him but he is there in the spirit and often uses what humans can see naturally. This causes confusion to those who don’t understand the enemy’s tactics causing responses to his antics in the wrong realm. The later part of that same scripture boldly states that Christ came that we may have life abundantly!!
Just like in the card game, WAR, we declare to our opponents that it’s on! We put on our game faces, line up our strategies and reiterate to the other player that they are going down!
When we fight in the spirit, we need to Declare War on Satan, gear up and send him roaming else where!
How do we effectively fight in the spirit? First and foremost we must learn to resist responding in the natural! This can be very difficult but is essential if we want to overcome! Here are four critical steps towards fighting spiritual wars:
1. Prayer – This may sound like a cliché but it’s a must nonetheless! Depending on what you are fighting, a 5 minute prayer asking for the same thing won’t do! You must up the anti! Get up early, stay up late, walk the floor, get a prayer partner and/or write down those things you are standing for. It’s sacrificial and your own flesh is not going to like it! You must push past those feeling and the voices in your head if you intend on winning!
2. Fasting – Turning down your plate is a powerful source to strengthen your inner spirit for this type of war. As you begin to kill the desires of your own flesh, your spirit will begin rising up and taking precedence. Adding fasting to committed prayer will sharpen your ear to hear from God. He will instruct and guide you as you show him that you are seeking his power and strength against what you are facing. (I recommend “The Daniel Fast”)
3. Word Declaration – Speak those things as though they were! (Romans 4:17) Verbal declarations of the Word of God is a powerful resource against the enemy. Starting with a few scriptures and speaking them out your mouth and into the atmosphere is a remedy toxic against Satan’s plans.
4. Praise – This speaks for itself! Exalt the Lord your God because it confuses the enemy! He expects you to be disturbed by the issues he is causing. When you begin to praise God he doesn’t stand a chance!!
If you are not use to doing these things it may feel unnatural initially. I can only encourage you to try it especially if how you are responding now is not working! I guarantee you responding in the flesh is a vicious cycle that will reap the same defeated results!
Do something different with the troubles in your life by putting on the full armor of God. (Ephesians 6:11) Declare Spiritual War for the back of the bible says We Win!!
My all time favorite song when preparing for Spiritual Warfare:
