Lord, Teach Me to Stand

We are in a war!

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.

As Christians, our struggle is against the powers 

of the dark world.

I am studying the book, 

"Lord, Is It Warfare? Teach Me to Stand."

by Kay Arthur

Over the past 3 years, I have picked up

the book many times, only to lay it down again.

Each time I've tried to study it, I would 

face the enemy in a way that is hard to explain.

Instead of putting on the armor and pushing 

through, I fell back in retreat.

"Finally , be strong in the Lord and in the power of His mighty power.

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand

against the devil's schemes.  For our struggle is not

against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the

authorities, against the powers of this dark world

and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Ephesians 6:10-13

We all face struggles everyday.

That's life.

But how do we know when it is spiritual warfare?

I awoke one morning to the words

"Satan, has asked that He may sift you as wheat..."

I went on to face one of the greatest battles that I had 

ever fought before.

A year or so ago, God spoke to me, 

"You will not have to fight this battle, you need only to be still."

I knew a storm, a sweet word for a battle,

was brewing.

The past few years, 

I lost both parents and watched them suffer, 

one quietly, one with questions, fears and doubts.

My son-in-law had cancer
and my daughter and her husband
have fought infertility.

Both of our children
have had miscarriages.

My husband and myself faced health issues
with insurmountable doctor bills.

I have been without a job
and our credit is shot.

I've had my faith shaken to the core.

I became disillusioned with the church.

I encountered a dark world of depression.

I fought the enemy in dreams and visions in the night.

I walked in fear instead of faith.

There was misunderstanding upon misunderstanding 

between me and family members and friends.

 I resigned all my positions in the church that 

my daddy started and Satan said, 

"No one cares."

I faced a secret temptation of the mind

that no one knew about but God.

Attacked on every side

from within and without.

This, my friend, is spiritual warfare.

Read Ephesians 6:14-18.

The past week, 

I have stayed in the Word.

I have prayed without ceasing.

I know Satan's end.

He does not win!

I highlighted the Scripture that spoke of Satan's end 

and said them aloud.  

When faced with Spiritual Warfare, 

Remind Satan of this...

Christ has rescued us from the dominion of darkness.

(We have been saved and protected by the power of Christ.)

(Colossians 1:13)

When Christ went to the cross, He disarmed all powers 

and authorities of darkness and made a public 

spectacle of them triumphing over them.

(As Children of the Most High God, we have the power

to demolish the strongholds! (2 Corinthians 10:2-6) 

The prince of the world (Satan) will be driven out.

(We know his end!)

(John 12:31)

Jesus destroyed the power of death-that is the devil.

(Hebrews 2:14)

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.

(1 John 3:8)

Remember Satan is a liar and the father of lies. 

He comes to steal, kill and destroy.

Jesus came to give LIFE and LIFE more abundantly.

When faced with a battle, remember THE WORD OF GOD

is your offensive and defensive weapon.

Read it, memorize it, speak it!

The mind is a battlefield.

We have been given divine power 

to fight the enemy.  Take captive every thought 

and make it obey Christ.

(2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

We're in a battle. 

I'm with ya, sista!

But, praise God, we know who wins!

Prayers for You, 

Bonnie:)