Spiritual warfare is something every Christian experiences and we must be vigilant against the wiles of the enemy. My devotional, The Battle Is Not Yours offers resources to help. Enjoy the first chapter of The Battle Is Not Yours.
He’s Not Human
Table of Contents
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
Have you ever argued with someone without a valid reason? The argument may be about something major or something insignificant, it doesn’t matter.
Maybe the person you argued with was a family member, coworker, or friend. Maybe the person was a stranger.
In either case, you walked away from the conversation angry and frustrated. Your entire day had been upended and all the plans you had.
Maybe you spend a few minutes (or hours) stewing about the situation. How dare that person talk to you that way? How could they not understand your vision? Why can’t they support you?
At some point, logic may set in and you wonder, why was I even arguing about that in the first place?
If any of these sound, or feel familiar, you may have been involved in a spiritual battle.
The Oxford Online Dictionary defines battle as a sustained fight between large organized armed forces.
You may disagree with this definition because you’re thinking, I’m a Christian. I’m not part of an organized armed force.
Aren’t you?
Then why do we have songs like I’m in the Lord’s Army and Onward Christian Soldier? Why does the Bible encourage us to commune with other believers?
Why does Exodus 15:3 call God a “man of war”?
Are you beginning to see it now? Whether we choose to admit it, when we became Christians, we were inducted into the army of God.
One of God’s names is Jehovah Sabaoth, which can be translated as The Lord of Armies.
The Collins Online Dictionary defines spiritual as relating to people’s thoughts and beliefs, rather than to their bodies and physical surroundings.
Let’s put these two definitions together to make our own.
Spiritual warfare is a battle between the Lord’s armies and the devil’s. This battle relates to our thoughts and beliefs, rather than our bodies and physical surroundings.
This is the reason today’s key text is so important. The battle we’re fighting is not against a physical person. It’s against a spiritual force.
The devil isn’t human, so why do we waste our energy and effort fighting him as if he is? Let’s not underestimate him or pretend we can fight him in our strength and on our terms.
My friend, the enemy will use the people around us to engage us in spiritual warfare.
He’ll tangle us up in petty disputes and disagreements because he knows it will distract us from our purpose.
When you are engaging in a physical battle, breathe. Remind yourself that the enemy is not physical. He’s not human. He’s a spiritual being and we can’t defeat him with physical weapons.
We’ll talk about our weapons later, but for today, just breathe.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the reminder that I’m engaged in a spiritual battle against an enemy that’s not human. Help me identify his tactics and discern when he’s using the people around me to distract, disturb, or destroy.
Open my spiritual eyes to see the hosts of Your armies that surround me. Thank You for helping me through this battle. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Battle Is Not Yours: 21 Devotions for Spiritual Warfare
You’re in a spiritual battle. Learn to navigate the spiritual battlefield with confidence!
As Christians, we’re well aware of the ongoing struggle against the forces of evil. Sometimes, it seems like the battle is never-ending, but we must recognize the powerful resources available to us.
Explore the strength and wisdom found in The Battle Is Not Yours, featuring 21 impactful devotionals. These readings guide you in identifying the enemy, effectively using your spiritual tools, and ultimately achieving victory.
Prepare yourself for triumph in the spiritual realm. Get your copy of The Battle Is Not Yours today and embrace the victory that’s rightfully yours.
