Hard Seasons and Spiritual Forces
Hard seasons in life are inevitable. I don't know about you, but I often go through hard seasons, but let's call it like it really is. We are battling against Spiritual forces. Against an enemy who who takes every opportunity to take us down.
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When Life is Hard:
Beneath the pretty decor, the perfect pinterest projects and pictures, and the smiling faces, there are words that aren't being said. There are feelings that aren't being shared. There are minds racing and hearts hurting.The days just seem HARD. There may be hard changes being made at work, difficult converstaions taking place in our relationships, messy things going on at church, and yet many of us have made a conscious effort to put on a happy face and go about our days ... but it seems everywhere we place our energy, there is a battle.
Pay Attention:
Here we are trying so desperately to lead a peaceful, Christ-centered, and intentional life, yet we seem to be at war with every turn. Well guess what? We are! If you think about it, it makes sense, doesn't it?! I mean, if our focus is on Jesus, why wouldn't the enemy attack? He even attacked Jesus at the beginning of his ministry, right after his baptism. (Matthew 3 & 4)
Notice when the enemy attacks in your own life. Pay attention to what you are doing, what you're involved in, where you're investing your energy. The enemy wants to destroy you when you try to begin or even before you get started.Maybe you're working in ministry, teaching Sunday School or volunteering on a committee. You might be trying to incorporate daily devotions at home. It's possible you're working on your marriage becuase quiting is NOT an option. Or maybe you're home educating your children. Whatever your efforts may be, if they are done with the intent to glorify Christ and bring honor to Him, then you can be sure you're a target.
Stand Your Ground:
So often, I think it's easy for us to get upset at our children for their mis-behavior. It's easy for us to lash out at our husband for not communicating the way we think he should. And we can become angry at friends and collegues for their actions and attitudes. But when we take the people out of those circumstances and look at those hardships as spiritual battles, things start to come into perspective a bit more.
Ephesians 6:12
"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."
Anyone else feel this throughout the year? As I look back, some of my biggest struggles have been at Christmas time & the start of a new home school year. Both are times when I trying my best to train my family to focus our hearts toward the Lord. I doubt I am alone.
Be Prepared:
Knowing this, each morning I feel challenged to start my day by putting my armor on.
Ephesians 6:13-18
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your fee fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to al this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people."
So, are you finding yourself in the middle of a spiritual battle? The Bible tells us it's not a matter of IF, but "WHEN the day of evil comes..." Will you be prepared? Reading and Knowing God's word is a sure fire way to stand strong. I'd love to get into the habit of putting my 'armor' on every morning, and teaching my children to do the same. Who's with me?!
You might find these resources helpful:
Chuck Black wrote some wonderful series that help provide a biblical foundation for our youth.
"The Kingdom Series provides an action/adventure story for our youth that teaches Biblical character without the use of magic, witchcraft, or wizardry. The romantic medieval time period provided an excellent setting to write an allegory that children from ages eight to adult simply love. Each scene and character are directly symbolic to Bible stories. The reader is treated to an action story that chronologically follows the history of God’s people from creation to the end of time."
My husband is reading through the "Kingdom" series with the kiddos in the evenings. And if you'd like to study this topic a little more in depth, I highly recommend this study for us mommas by Priscilla Shirer, which I am going through.
"The Enemy always fails miserably when he meets a woman dressed for the occasion. The Armor of God, more than merely a biblical description of the believer's inventory, is an action plan for putting it on and developing a personalized strategy to secure victory."