SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

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.

We are engaged in relentless spiritual warfare. Our tendency as human beings is to assess our opponents by what we see with our eyes, which leads us to think that other people are the problem. But this verse warns us about lashing out against

human opponents as though they are the real enemy. Our real

opponents are unseen and intangible—but they are powerful, persistent, fierce and determined to draw blood.

Against them only spiritual weapons will prove superior. Of course the primary weapon is the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for us. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 we also learn that “though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

Fasting is also a forceful and effective spiritual weapon. God has given us authority to wield it and victory over our enemies often depends on praying and fasting persistently. Are there strongholds of jealousy, pride, unforgiveness or addiction in your life? The Bible tells us that with weapons like fasting and prayer, we can demolish these strongholds.

Prayer:

God, help us direct our attacks against the real enemy, Satan and his forces, not toward people we might perceive to be the problem. Through prayer and fasting give us strength and wisdom to be the warriors you have called us to be, to use the weapons you have given us and defeat these enemies. We give You thanks for the victory we have in You through the cross of Christ. In His name. Amen.