Built to Fight

Daily Devotional for April 20^th

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;  2 Corinthians 10:3-4

In this Christian life we live, we may be aware of some things that happen to us in the Spirit, but we are definitely unaware of the depth of spiritual warfare surrnounding us.  Satan targets us in order to weaken our effects in the world.  His desire is to disarm us; rob and wound us; discourage and distress us to the point where we give up the fight. 

Our greatest difficulty, though, is discerning the source of the attacks.  When someone does something to harm us, our reaction is to attack the person instead of realizing it is demonically influenced.  In order to war in the Spirit, we must recognize our warfare is not in the flesh.  As a puppet master is hidden and all eyes are directed at the puppet, so Satan controls people to a point to where he can overcome their will and use them against us.  If we seek vengeance on a person when spiritual attacks come, then our eyes are not on the correct source of the attack.

What most of us do not realize about spiritual attacks from Satan is the effect they have on us when they come.  When he attacks, he wounds your inner man.  Like insects aim for the fruit on a tree or plant, the devil seeks to destroy the fruit of the Spirit.  Joy, love, peace are fruits he wants removed from your tree.  When you are discouraged or depressed, make no mistake, it is a spiritual attack. 

Although most of us avoid confrontation, we have to fight whether we want to or not.  Remember, although not apparent to the eye, this world is caught up in an epic dual between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan.  Satan is waging warfare against us whether we realize it or not.  We must accept that spiritual battle is inevitable.  We must fight and stand against all evil.  Never run from the devil.

God has not left us without weapons.  We are built to fight but only in the Spirit.  God will equip us with His weapons to be victorious.  The weapons of our warfare are not carnal.  This is because our war is not in the flesh.  We must learn to use the weapons we have been given.  What are they?  They are found in Ephesians 6.  But how do we overcome the hurt already inflicted upon us?  We are to take our wounded hearts to Jesus, the Great Physician.  One of the reasons He came was to heal the brokenhearted.