Spiritual Warfare. I used to be a critic. I would hear my friend Laura Lynn tell me of her crazy nightmares and how she felt it was an attack from the enemy, and not really know what to think. I had never heard of such a thing. It was new to me, and I had never experienced or at least recognized spiritual warfare in my own life. However through the past year, I have experienced it up close and personal. It is a very real thing. But it doesn't have to defeat us. This post is dedicated to my friend Laura Lynn, who in my opinion has experienced enough spiritual attacks for all of us. I hope this is some encouragement to you sis. Don't give up. You got us peanuts to carry you. And Jesus of course :)
Spiritual warfare against the mind releases fear, confusion, despair and offense. Spiritual battles are not fought with fleshly ordinance. Scripture declares, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh” (2 Corinthians 10:3). Spiritual warfare is using the Word of God and your delegated authority to oppose demonic opposition against you.
The Holy Spirit is still giving us understanding of the ghostly powers that battle against us. Scripture says, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12). The Apostle Paul makes it clear that we are in a spiritual war and declares that, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).
Before we attack principalities and powers let’s learn how to pull down the warring thoughts and imaginations that rise within us. Paul continued, “Casting down imaginations.” An imagination is an image, a picture formed in the spirit of your mind of something unseen. Something that exists only in the imagination is not real unless you give life to it. Have you experienced an imagination today? What did you do with it? Did you cast it down and move ahead?
Spiritual warfare against the mind releases fear, confusion, despair and offense. Scripture says such things do not come from God, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Let’s start with confusion. Corrupted imaginations can affect sound judgment and inject confusion into your life. Left unrestrained they will release uncertainty and cause difficulty with problem solving, staying attentive and remaining focused. Confusion is like a gray haze that dares you to enter. Mental murk is the symptom of a weapon that clouds truth. That’s why its source needs to be justly observed. Sometimes it is caused from lack of rest, health or disinformation that affects your ability to solve problems or clear your thoughts. At other times it’s the result of spiritual attacks, warfare within your mind that produces mixed-up thinking. When the haze assaults, remember that “God is not the author of confusion but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Often confusion is a spiritual attack against your mind that has little or nothing to do with the general circumstances surrounding you. If attacked by confusion plead the blood of Jesus over your mind and watch the cloudiness disappear like the morning fog at sunrise.
Sad news can release despair. Yet dismay from spiritual warfare usually has nothing to do with a sad story. Have you felt like you just wanted to give up and quit? Monday morning has come and you just want to turn back. One of the surest signs of spiritual attack against the mind is the feeling that you want to throw up your hands and quit. Despair feels like a lonely winter. It is the notion that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out well. It is an attack against hope. Scripture says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Notice that faith activates hope that resides in the unseen realm within. You have probably heard much about the importance of faith, but faith activates hope. Hope is the stuff that dreams are made of. That’s why the spirit of this world attacks it so. If the enemy can destroy your hope he can disarm your faith. Those times when you feel like quitting and the whole world is against you are sure signs that victory is right at the door. Pick up your double-edged sword and slay that feeling! Don't give up!
And this is just for you LL! Aww, SAD.
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