Occasionally I get an email or Tweet that says:
"Why is your blog so "Battle" themed? It isn't like we are in spiritual warfare all the time with our faith - you need to find peace. There are good things in the Church and you should focus on the good."
Now I would agree that there are good things in the Church and that we all need to find peace. What I disagree with is that we aren't locked in an ongoing battle for the safety of our souls. An example of what we face on a simple walk through life:
We get in our car to go to the store, we face the choice of what to listen to, the pop station with the songs and ads all dealing with sex, drugs, and sex or maybe something else? So as we drive and we fill our minds with something we head to the store to buy a few things. We need eggs, milk, and a few other things. When we get there, the jerk in the red car takes our spot and we are forced to park way out in east-Egypt, what a horrible thing to have to walk on such a nice day.
As we enter the store we see a girl that looks, well... you know how she looks, and we think to ourself: "What I would..." wait? What do we think to ourselves, in our own mind where no one knows, safety right? So we continue on, thinking (or not thinking) about that girl. We get the eggs, milk, and get up to the checkout counter and see the magazines that fill our eyes and minds with so much. Again we either have thoughts or don't have thoughts about all sorts of things. As we exit the store we see that lady from Church, you know the lady the one that is just so.... or maybe we offer up a prayer for her? I don't know I guess it just depends on our... mood? that day.
As we walk to the car we look at the electronics store and think of that new things we just want need want soooo bad! Wouldn't it be so cool? It would make us feel so something, this object would make us feel? Such an odd thought, or maybe not, maybe it is exactly what we need, ah well that is for another day. So we get in our car and turn on the radio... to something again. On the drive home we think about the radio, the red car, the girl, the electronics store... or we don't.
Whether we like it or not we are faced with things around every corner that force our minds and thoughts into a battle between good and evil. It isn't usually our fault that we face these things, but it is up to us how we deal with these battles. Life is a constant battle with the faith. The Devil is literally around every corner and we have to accept that and deal with it. We don't get to say, "but I dont want to..." Whether we want to or not we face him.
So when we are faced with a decision there is usually good and bad. The radio, the red car, the girl, the things, all of this is part of the spiritual warfare that we engage in... and it is up to us how we deal with it. Luckily by the grace of God we have some pretty awesome help, but it still comes down to the that internal compass.
Spiritual warfare is a part of everyday life, we are the Church Militant and we must remain on guard and ready... lest we get tangled in the wickedness and snares of the Devil. So let us pray, and may God rebuke him, and Do thou, o' Prince of the Heavenly Host, cast into hell...Satan.
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Amen! I can't add anything more than that.
If anyone truly thinks we aren't constantly in a spiritual warfare, they lost the war.
Where is the "Like" button?
Good post. I think we get caught up in pain-aversion so much that we tend to think we shouldn't have to suffer at all. Got pain? Take an ibuprofen. Got tempted? Where's the peace pill for that? It's called prayer.
So very true. If our God is not a warrior who fights for the souls of his beloved, and is depending on us to do his work by embracing the same approach to life, I'm not sure heaven is somewhere I'd want to be. But...he is, and I am. Thanks for the great reminder.
A few kind words from our God on Spiritual Warfare confirm the battle is in our minds:
"I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a LIVING SACRIFICE, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
Do not conform yourselves to this age but BE TRANSFORMED by the RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect."
~~~ Romans 12: 1-2
This is spiritual worship in the midst of an ongoing spiritual battle. Romans tells us the purpose of our lives in these verses, and to renew our mind.
The route to renewal of your mind is here:
"Finally, brothers,
whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise,
THINK about these things. "
~~~ Philippians 4:8
Romans tells you WHAT to do;
Philippians tells you HOW to do so.
Memorize the above verses and sing them daily as you can. Soon, your life will be pleasing to the Lord.
For a Primer on Spiritual Warfare, read Ephesians 6: 10-20.
For an actual incident of spiritual warfare, a tremendous and seldom read truth is found on spiritual warfare in 2nd Chronicles 20.
The entire chapter has several principles to follow when waging spiritual warfare.
An entire post could be done on both Ephesians 6 and the verses above....nay 6 or more posts; and true for 2 Chronicles 20. That would take likely 10 to 12 posts.
But the above Romans/Philippians verses are a great start.
All good comments, let me respond a bit:
Jamie: I haven't learned how to put the "LIKE" button on my posts. I have tried, and tried, to no avail.
Keystone: The Primer part of the title, I struggled with a bit. I have written on some of the Scripture to which you refer. You are correct though, and this is a slew of scripture which could make a whole book of posts.
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