Victory

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." - Ephesians 6:12-13

Every morning, I prepare myself for the day ahead by making a hot cappuccino, opening my praise music set list, and then reading the Bible. By praising God for who He is, by thanking Him for every blessing He gives me, and seeking Him through the Word, I feel His presence so powerfully. It is as if I can sense Him right over my shoulder. It is amazing to know that the Creator of every star and galaxy cares enough about me to number every hair on my head (Luke 12:7). He loves me and has promised that He will draw near to me, if I only choose to draw near to Him (James 4:8).

When I watch the news and witness all of the violence, natural disasters, wars, political unrest and social division, I am reminded that our world is a battlefield. It is easy to blame the opposite political party, Palestine or Israel, Russia or Ukraine, or any other man, when the truth is that spiritual forces are at work. Satan is the adversary who comes to steal our peace, take our lives, and destroy all that God has created (John 10:10). It is all too easy to become fearful when we see nations at war, hear threats of nuclear destruction, and realize how fragile our lives are. Therefore, it is imperative that we stay rooted and grounded in the Word and have fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

Our lives can be difficult, and it is easy to be fearful. Each of us struggle at times. Our colleagues get on our nerves, our boss can be totally unreasonable, we may struggle with drug, alcohol, or food addictions, or we might be overburdened with simply paying the mortgage and putting food on the table. We may even feel like we have failed and have lost hope. Thankfully, the battle is not ours, but God's. He already won the war, and He gives us the strength to not only stand and fight but gain victory. Today's text urges us to put on the armor of God and to stand strong against these spiritual forces. God has given us victory over fear. We have the Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

Too often, our problems seem greater than our abilities. It is often a simple matter of perspective. Ask yourself, "Am I focused on my problems or walking in faith that God will provide a solution?" "Do I complain about what I do not have, or do I count my blessings and thank God for what I have?" God has promised to provide for every need that we have if we will seek first His kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33). He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

We should not worry but have faith. We face a spiritual battle, and it is not based on our strength. When speaking of the antichrist and spirits of this world, the apostle John said, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).” Our strength is based on the promises of God. When we spend time studying the Word, speaking His promises as our sword, and praising Him for each victory, our faith grows. Then we can share the gospel simply by testifying what God has done for us.

Because the fight is not ours and we are dependent on the Holy Spirit, it is critical for us to walk with Him daily. Sometimes, we become too busy and stressed out for Bible study, devotions, thanking and praising God, and listening to the still voice of the Spirit. Ironically, that is when we need Him the most. He must be our priority as we begin each day. Life is a battle. Our faith gives us strength and the Word is our weapon, but God is our victory. There is no better use of our time than in fellowship with our Lord.