LEARNING DAILY

Ephesians 6:12, 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.

I know that assumptions are not good to make. As this is being written, I cannot help but think each reader has found themselves in some sort of conflict with someone and struggled to understand what caused it. The battles Believers face, the challenges in life that come along are not always physical or visible. The verse from Ephesians is a reminder that spiritual influences may be trying to disrupt relationships, trying to cause misunderstandings, trying to cause deception, and trying to cause discouragement. These forces are often the cause of temptation and attempts to cause one harm.

When Believers find themselves facing conflict(s) with someone, the “battle” may not be just a physical battle but a spiritual battle. If this is the situation, it is important to remember that you are not alone; spiritual battles require spiritual weapons. It is also important to remember that Believers are equipped to face these battles with faith, strength, and perseverance.

In the verses following, Paul reminds us that we are not to try to fight these battles on our own. Believers must rely on God’s strength and put on the spiritual armor God has given Believers to fight with. This includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of readiness given by the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

To effectively fight spiritual battles, we must remember the truth that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil. This means that our battle is not merely a physical one, but a spiritual one that requires spiritual weapons. We need to rely on God’s strength and put on the armor of God, which includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of readiness given by the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Prayer is a vital part of this spiritual battle as communication with God helps Believers to stay alert and to continue in the face of spiritual attacks. Paul also tells Believers to stand firm in their faith as they know God is with them.

Our life is full of challenges. Spiritual forces are working diligently to shake each Believer’s walk on the narrow way. Just like you need the various tools you have to complete the work you do, you, as a Believer, need the armor of God to stand strong when unseen forces try to disrupt your life. Stay watchful, stay alert by being in God’s Word and in prayer daily!