Have you ever experienced spiritual warfare just at the moment (or shortly after) you took a step of faith to know Christ more deeply and serve Him more faithfully? The first time it happened to me I was totally unprepared and questioned the call God had on my life and that of my husband. Wasn’t serving God in full time ministry what He had asked of us? As we prayed and asked God to clarify what He’d asked of us we realized that it was the enemy seeking to make us back down.
Simply knowing doesn’t mean “easy” by any stretch of the imagination. Have I ever questioned whether it was worth it? Yes, I have. Has it broken my heart to see my family struggle with the attacks over the years? Yes, it has. Do I wish I’d chosen another journey or stopped serving because it was too hard? No, I have not.
What God has taught me in the midst of the struggles are lessons I wouldn’t have learned any other way. I’ve gone deeper in my walk with Christ not in spite of them, but because of them. In the darkest times and helpless situations, I’ve learned to lean on Him, trust Him, call out the truths I know about Him, and experience His peace.
The song Oceans was a message God gave me the first Sunday in January. As I listened closely for the first time to these words of going deeper with the Lord and keeping my eyes above the waves, I was excited at first, then wondered a little fearfully what it would mean. But I sang and believed those words of His truth. I thought it might be a health issue as I faced some extra follow up tests to routine ones. I knew if that was what it was, God would walk every step of the way with us. It wasn’t.
As always even though I am somewhat prepared, I am often surprised at the direction from which difficulties come. That was true in this situation. But as they came, I remembered the message of Oceans and Peter’s experience of walking on the water and knew we would not walk alone. Once again God’s faithfulness and grace have carried us through some challenges this year and it’s only March!
If you are challenged right now by the attacks of the enemy, remember God is bigger and stronger and has won the victory. Perhaps like Job, God is allowing this testing to PROVE you faithfulness. Whatever the reason for the attack, here are a few things to consider as you face these days:
- Are we spending time in the Word daily? (Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12)
- Are we daily submitting to God’s authority? (Read Psalm 143:8)
- Are we bathing everything in prayer? (Read Ephesians 6:18)
- Are we becoming more like Him daily? (Read 1 Peter 2:2-3, 2 Thessalonians 1:3)
- Are we prepared for battle? (Read 1 Cor. 6:18, 1 Tim. 6:11, 2 Tim. 2:22, Ephesians 6:10-18, Rom. 12:1-2, Phil. 4:8-9)
- Are we pursuing holiness? (Read 1 Peter 1:13-16, 2 Timothy 2:21)
Don’t give up or the enemy gets victory in your current battle. Though the ultimate war was won on the cross, the daily battles are God’s or the enemies. Who will win your battle today?
