Most of the time, when we hear the term “spiritual warfare,” it’s usually in a movie or a show. With how sensationalized the term has become, it can be hard for Christians to determine if spiritual warfare is even real. However, spiritual warfare is a very real struggle for many Christians. It causes us to let our guard down and open our hearts to the temptations of sin that turn us away from God. How can Christians know if they’re under spiritual attack, what is spiritual warfare, and how can Christians win in the struggle for eternity?
Let’s start with understanding what spiritual warfare is. Spiritual warfare is the daily battle for our soul that rages in our hearts, minds, and spirit. In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul describes spiritual warfare: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Basically, spiritual warfare is the battle between good and evil taking place in the spiritual realm all around us. While God is constantly pulling us toward the light, Satan is prowling through the bushes and looking for any opportunity to drag us into sin.
Some Christians will blame every little problem on Satan and his demons, while other Christians pretend the spiritual realm doesn’t exist at all. Both of these errors can be spiritually fatal. Blaming Satan for every issue stops us from being accountable for our own sins and actions while choosing to ignore the evil going on around us leaves us open to spiritual corruption.
So, what’s the best way to fight spiritual warfare? For starters, we can take responsibility for our sins and remain vigilant of the temptations around us. The Apostle Paul yet again grants us great wisdom regarding spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:13-17: “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 feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all 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.”
When we spend more time with God and fill ourselves with His light, it becomes easier to stand our ground when we begin feeling the powerful tug of sin during the battle of spiritual warfare. When we practice our faith and show love, patience, and restraint, we make it much more difficult for Satan to pull us into sin and temptation. When we become saved by Jesus, we become enabled with the power of the Holy Spirit to help us resist the Evil One. However, what we decide to give our time to each day can have a direct influence on our spiritual health. Are we spending time with God or going out to party? Which will enrich us, and which will damn us? As Christians, we must try our best to be aware of the temptations around us.
When it comes to the battles of spiritual warfare, we can endure because Jesus endured! It’s important to note, however, that we are only human. We’re not perfect, and resisting the temptations to sin can be incredibly difficult. That’s why NuWell Christian Counseling can provide safe, anonymous, and faithful spiritual warfare counseling to Christians everywhere with our online counseling platform. Our Christian counselors are well-equipped to help you don the armor of God and claim victory in your spiritual battle.
