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Battle Belongs ~ Phil Wickham
For our struggle is… 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 6:12 NIVUK
Are you battling something? I feel like so many people I know are either battling something physical—colds that hang on for weeks, heart conditions, cancer, neuropathy, stomach issues, etc.—or something emotional/mental—depression, fear, anxiety, loss, addictions, and more. I was whining to God the other day about a cold because it had lasted longer than I thought it should. But God reminded me that all battles need to be fought spiritually, and many both physically and spiritually. He also said that while symptoms indicate an issue, they don’t mean that my body is failing the fight. And while feelings tell us something is up, they don’t mean that God isn’t moving.
What should you do when your symptoms are yucky, and your emotions are running amuck? Remember two key things: there’s victory in your words and we’re fighting a spiritual battle.
There’s victory in your words.
In her book, Battlefield of the Mind, Joyce Meyer tells the story of a man who was battling a major illness. One day, well into the fight, the man told God that he felt he was losing the battle. God sent the man a vision and allowed him to see that a demon was next to him, telling him lies. However, when the man spoke the word of God, a flaming sword came out of his mouth, and caused the demon to cower. For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword… Hebrews 4:12 AMPC
We are fighting a spiritual battle.
There are many examples of this in the Bible. One is when Joshua was battling physically, and Moses was battling spiritually. Moses went up to pray for the Israelites’ victory. When Moses’ hands were raised, Joshua and the Israelite army were winning. However, when Moses’ hands started to drop, the Israelite army began to lose, (Exodus 17:8-13). Nehemiah faced the same thing when he was trying to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. As the enemies came against them, Nehemiah knew, “They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed,’” (Nehemiah 6:9).
Regardless of your feelings, symptoms, or the battles you’ve been fighting, know that God is moving. Keep praying for your marriage, your kids, and your healing. Keep praying for those battling cancer, neuropathy, and cardiac issues. Keep praying for healing and restoration in families. Why keep praying? Nehemiah said it best: the enemy is trying to get you to think that it’s not working. He’s trying to get you to quit so he can win. We must pray like Nehemiah: Lord, strengthen my hands. Let us not get too worn out and quit. Help us to keep praying, believing, and watching, expecting to see God move!
©Heather Potts 2022
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