We’re living in an era of intense spiritual battles. I say battles plural because they’re swirling around us on every level of our lives. Spiritual battles in the heavenlies and on earth! That's why I pray daily, “May your Kingdom come,

Your will be done in my life today as in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10)

You’ve no doubt heard or even used the term “pick your battles.” In raising kids, we may let them slide in certain nonthreatening issues like keeping their room immaculate, while we focus on the battle of protecting them against the moral dangers they face daily just going to school. We come down hard on them picking friends wisely, curfews, avoiding substance abuse, attending church, honesty, safety. . . We’d like to see a clean bedroom floor because we want to teach them about neatness, sanity, cleanliness, but we must pick the battles that affect their safety, faith, and future.

In our marriages, spouses don’t agree on everything, so a wise wife or husband will decide what’s okay to overlook like replacing the toothpaste cap or leaving dirty dishes in the sink and focus on all that our spouse does for us in other areas to show their love and affection. We pick our battles!

So what do we do when we find ourselves today living in a bombardment of battles on every front? How do we know which one to confront? When we turn on the news or look on social media, it feels like we’re constantly ducking arrows of right vs wrong, moral vs immoral, just vs unjust, liberal vs conservative, good vs evil. Everything everywhere seems out of control. High prices at the store or gas station, men in women’s sports, anti-Semitism, Israel under attack, students yelling in the streets “Death to Israel Death to America,” genital mutilation of children by doctors, women demanding to kill their unborn babies, schools initiating gender confusion, lies swirling that gender is interchangeable, border invasion, woke government in control . . .

If we’re not grounded in a firm faith foundation, we can easily become discouraged, depressed, distraught, dismayed, and possibly even wounded by one of those satanic strategic arrows. God in His sovereignty knew this would happen in our world, but He doesn’t want any of His followers wounded by the fiery darts of the enemy. God tells us in the Bible that this all must happen before He returns, but He also tells us to be spiritually prepared and protected.

When my prayer warrior hubby, Dave, hears about a Christian going through a tough time, he always asks, “I wonder if they’re praying and putting on the armor of God?”

Dave and I have prayed the armor of God found in Ephesians 6:10-18 daily for most of our thirty-one years of marriage. We know spiritual warfare is real. It’s not a myth! The Lord speaks of it clearly and often in the Bible. Yet, many Christians don’t realize this spiritual battle isn't just occurring in the world, it’s in our personal lives too. The battle between good and evil, Jesus and Satan will continue until the time of Jesus’ return.

When we take our first step of faith as believers, we automatically enter into the war zone raging in the heavenlies and become Satan’s target. Satan hates Christians and the influence we can have on the culture and the next generations. So he does everything in his power to neutralize our influence and the role we allow God to play in our lives, especially in raising our children—the future believers. I’ve said repeatedly that Satan wants our children and grandchildren, and we’re watching how openly and aggressively he’s going after them today. He knows his time is short, but he can inflict extensive damage during whatever time he has left. You can call it wokeness, Marxism, Communism, progressive liberals—it’s ALL satanic. Once you realize this, you know the way to fight back is found in God’s Word, the Bible, prayer, and standing firm in faith.

We don’t have to succumb to Satan’s wiles unless we choose to give up and give in instead of using the spiritual weapons God implores us to take up every day.

Praying the Armor of God

In Ephesians 6:10-18, the apostle Paul penned a prayer of protection known as the armor of God. Dave and I pray these verses every morning, which we have memorized, because we know that as Christians the enemy is going to put obstacles in our way and try to take us down. You’ve surely experienced some of those obstacles yourself, but verses ten to eleven encourage us to^“Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” (NLT)

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us of something we often forget: “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (NLT)

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. (Eph. 6:13-16)

The good news for every believer is that we have the power of Jesus within us to thwart Satan’s schemes, “Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Verse 17 NLT)

God assures us that we can trust Him to fight the spiritual battle for and with us. We just need to engage, do our part, take a stand, and not be passive bystanders. Rather than trying to solve the problems ourselves or find ways to combat what we might be experiencing in the earthly realm, our role is to call on God. Paul writes that we are to Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (Verse 18 NLT). This echoes Philippians 4:6, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

When we’re feeling fearful, worried, anxious, threatened, or stressed, we can prayerfully search the Scriptures to discover that God has already provided a safety hedge or shield of protection around those who trust and believe in Him. It doesn’t mean the enemy won’t try to weasel into our life and our world, but we know how to prevent his feeble attempts from penetrating our mind, heart, and soul.

Imagine yourself with a hedge of spiritual swords pointed up and surrounding you against any attempts of the enemy as you open your Bible to read God’s Word and pray each day.

In addition to the armor of God, Paul advises us to put on the “armor of Light” (Romans 13:12). To clothe ourselves “with Christ” (Galatians 3:27). “To put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24). “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. . . And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Col. 3:12, 14).

Dr. David Jeremiah assures us that, “To put on the armor of God is to put on Christ Himself and all His attributes. Living each day in obedience and submission to the Lord Jesus Christ will find us totally protected against the ‘wiles of the devil.’” (Eph. 6:11)

Be Not Afraid As You Choose Your Battles, Knowing the Battle Belongs to the Lord!

The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. Psalm 121:5 NLT

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. Psalm 18:2 NLT

God stands ready to protect us against what the Bible calls the world: a culture, way of thinking, and world system controlled by Satan. Since we must live in this world, we continually ask God to protect us from the way the world thinks, speaks, acts, and the ensuing circumstances of an evil culture.

It’s a continual process of separating God’s ways from the world’s way. We can never let down our guard or spiritual hedge, but when we trust omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Almighty God, He will lead, guide, and direct us. God stands ready to shield us from the world and to keep us from letting the world seep into our life.

We’re in the Lord’s army. Be obedient and ready to do battle.

How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. Psalm 31:19 NLT

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace. Numbers 6:24–26 NLT

For the Lord is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. He will care for us and save us. Is. 33:22 NLT

Note: Dr. Charles Stanley wrote a daily prayer, Dressing in Your Spiritual Armor. I suggest you incorporate this into your daily quiet time.

Once you’re suited in your spiritual armor, watch this documentary at http://www.lettertotheamericanchurch.com. Ask your pastor to watch it also to share with your church and community. Even though we’re not of the world, we’re living in the world until the Lord takes us home. The church must do our part as the Lord leads to protect what the Lord left us in charge of until His return.

“Our enemies are on every side, and so must our armor be.” William Gurnall

About His Work with You,

Janet

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PS: Are you looking for a Bible study for your group to do in the spring or summer? Check out the Face-to-Face Bible study series, or one of my books like Forsaken God? Remembering the Goodness of God our Culture Has Forgotten, or Everyday Brave: Living Courageously As A Woman of Faith are available at Amazon, BarnesandNoble, and signed and personalized by Janet from our website shop. Both books are written for our current times. Perfect for book clubs and Bible Study groups.

PSS: Now is the time to order your Mentor and Mentee Handbooks for spring & summer Mentoring Ministry Coffees and matching.  

PSSS: If you're ready to start a Mentoring Ministry ALL Woman to Woman Mentoring Resources are available only at our website shop. 

PSSSS: Please share with us a story from your mentoring ministry to encourage other churches.

If you, like us, have grandchildren in college, or going soon, we must be on our knees interceding for their protection from the evil invading our colleges as witnessed in the horrible protests taking place on college campuses against Jews and America itself!

This video, “Israel Comedy Show Roasts Columbia University, portrays the pathetic ignorance of students engaged in the protests against Israel and Jewish students and professors. It isn’t funny. It’s tragic as live media interviews with students also depict that most are just going along with the crowd and don’t even understand what or why they're protesting. Intellectually held hostage by extremist ideologies. Joining a crowd often comprised of people paid to stir up trouble. Outsiders, not even students.

We must also speak into our children’s and grandchildren’s lives to be sure they are hearing the truth and know how to defend it when peers pressure them to go along with something they know is wrong. It’s imperative they understand, “Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you.” Num. 24:9 NLT

We do NOT want our children and grandchildren to be in opposition to God because of ignorance of the Bible and God’s prophetic Word. Rather, we need to be sure that nothing hinders their relationship with God, now or ever!

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  Luke 18:15-17

*The picture is our granddaughter Katelyn graduating this year and going to BSU in the fall. She’s specializing in sports medicine, and I’ve talked to her about how liberal BSU has become. She’s aware. Her plans are to join Christian organizations at school that she and her Christian friends have researched. At least she has a plan and she’ll have praying grandparents and parents.