The Battle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtvQNzPHn-w

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

On the Side without a Shield

 

https://youtu.be/tgw1hIcW34k

Surviving the Game ~ Skillet 

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand [the side not carrying a shield]. ~ Psalm 121:5 AMPC

If the right hand is your working side, why did the verse also specify that the Lord’s on the side not carrying a shield. As a warrior, your shield gives you protection. When you feel protected, you won’t run from the enemy. Instead, you’ll either stand your ground, or advance in battle. 

I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. ~ Psalm 16:8 AMPC

If the left side carries the shield for protection and confidence, then the Lord provides that for you on your right side. He stands at your side and gives you a weapon to wield.

Last week, I had the opportunity to walk one of the 3rd grade classes through the temptations of Jesus. We discussed the importance of knowing scripture as a way to overcome temptation. Just as we weren’t given a sword to hang it on a belt, we weren’t given a Bible to keep it closed on a table. There’s nothing scary about either scenario. But swinging a sword and studying scripture...that makes us a dangerous threat to the enemy.

 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

But we were created to do more than just fight. We are God’s workmanship, called to do the good works He planned in advance for us, (Ephesians 2:10). That reminds me of Nehemiah and the Jews who worked to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. As they worked, the enemy came against them. Because the opposition was so fierce, “[those] who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked,” (Nehemiah 4:17-18 NIV). That sounds like a rather clunky way to work. But if you are expected to be a warrior--defending yourself and your home--as well as a worker, you’d need to do both. Though the expectation is still there for us, it’s not as literal as this picture.

Most of us will not have to fight and work that way, but we’re still expected to do both. I think, at some point, we have all fallen into the trap of believing that spiritual warfare is for one season, and doing God’s work is for another. But the truth is, we are called to do them simultaneously. God gave us weapons for spiritual warfare so that we could fight and remain standing, while doing the work that God prepared for us.

Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that … you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ~ Ephesians 6:13 NIVUK

The Lord is your keeper: your guard, preserver, and Shepherd. 

The Lord is your shade: as near as your shadow for your protection and

refreshment. 

He’s on your right side: on your working side - providing skills, wisdom,

guidance, perseverance, strength, courage, determination, and

encouragement. 

He’s on the side not carrying a shield: on your warfare side -

providing spiritual weapons, like the sword of the Spirit.

The Lord has positioned Himself to be near to you, providing everything you need, in every circumstance. Whatever you need today, receive it from Him and get moving!

©Heather Potts 2021