If anyone leads you to believe that once you have made Jesus your Savior and Lord of your life, everything will be “smooth sailing” – nothing can be farther from the truth. I write this not to scare you, but to help you recognize the fact that the decision to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior is the absolute BEST decision you will have EVER made for and in your life. In fact, the Bible tells us:
“Likewise I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)
At the same time, since we are in a spiritual war – the eyes of our enemy (the devil) and his demons are infuriated by it. Before you became a Christian, he was not bothered by you, because you walked in ignorance and were no trouble to him. He felt as though “he’s got you.” But once Holy Spirit opened up your spiritual eyes to the truth of God and you turned your heart and your head in God’s direction, you became noteworthy of the enemies attention. I say this not to scare you – because “greater is He that is you than he that is within the world” (1 John 4:4) but you’ve now been made aware of what was true all along, only you didn’t know it – you are a pawn in a spiritual war that has been going on since the fall of Adam and Eve and now you’ve changed sides. You are now on the “winning side” but you have stepped forward in Christ to the front line of the battle and you have to prepare for it by reading your Word (the Bible), praying non-stop (conversations with God become natural and the older you become in Christ, the more you will realize the importance and bringing things before the Father in prayer) and girding yourself up as indicated in Ephesians 6:13-18:
“Therefore take up the whole 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 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. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
One of your biggest weapons will be intercession. Many people around you who are still spiritually blind, won’t understand this change in you. Won’t accept it. They are spiritually blind – PRAY for them. This is one of the duties of being a soldier in Him. Now you know the truth, God has set you free. One of your biggest responsibilities in knowing the truth of God – is for interceding and praying for those that don’t. I say this but I also want you to remind you that your job is to pray for them, you CANNOT save your family or friends that is not your responsibility. God has given them free will and it is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to turn hearts towards salvation. But don’t belittle your intercessory prayers. God hears them! And they are in line with the Word of God because it is NOT God’s will that ANY should perish.(2 Peter 3:8-9) But just as with you, it is the turning of a person’s heart that brings them to a point where they are open to accepting the message of salvation. Pray for your loved ones and believe.
Also – now that you are on the “winning side” the side of Christ. Remember that although the battle has ALREADY been won by Jesus (through his death and resurrection), God’s mercy and grace has kept Jesus from returning as of yet so that many others (such as you and I) can hear the Words of the gospel (the Bible) and become saved! Thank God for His delay! Thank God for His mercies and for His grace! BUT the fury of the evil one and the anger and knowledge of the fact that it is only a matter of time before Jesus returns and claims those that belong to Him as His own (you can read more about this in the book of Revelations) we are in the middle of the enemies fury because he knows his time is short and he wants to take many of them down with him to hell as he can. The Bible tells us:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” (John 10:10) but the good news is the end of that scripture says – “Jesus has come so that we may have life and to have it more abundantly.”
So we must stand prepared and the enemy fights dirty and he will fight you in ways you LEAST expect it. I say this because I have experienced spiritual warfare for the 32 years I have been in Christ and some of the combat has come in ways I DID not expect. There have been times when I have fallen on the battlefield surprised by unexpected tactics (or people) the enemy has been able to use to inflict the greatest of pain. When this happens to you – this is where God calls you to look to Jesus (who has experienced ALL things) as to your example as how to conduct yourself. In Jesus’ greatest pain He forgave. Forgiveness can be hard to do, especially when the person(s) you have to forgive are not sorry. But God commands us to forgive as Jesus forgave and this is one of the hardest things in your walk with Him that you will have to learn to do and it is a constant that in this life we will have to forgive as Christ has forgiven us. Pray that God will help you, strengthen you and keep you at times where the enemy uses people you love to be the tools in the spiritual warfare you are facing – sometimes the VERY people that you are interceding on behalf of! Sometimes even those that are in the body of Christ! Stand on guard in love and be prepared for whatever the enemy throws your way and ALWAYS remember Who YOU are in Christ. Turn to the Bible for instruction and continue to walk BY faith and not be floored by what you see occurring around you. Because while things may come as a surprise to us – they don’t to the One who created you. Who knows you! Who saved you! “He holds you in the very palms of His hands.” (Isaiah 49:16) “He IS the lifter of your head” (Psalm 3:3) We just have to remember that the Bible tells us, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Remembering who we belong to and that we can do nothing in and of ourselves should not make us feel defeated and hopeless but help us to gain strength in the One who has Won! To know that even though we may not see it – there are warring angels ALL around us! We are NOT alone! God sees us, He knows us! He has equipped us! We are strong when we realized our strength comes from Him! Our strength IS in Him! We are His and when you concentrate on this Holy Spirit will fill you with that “peace that passes ALL understanding” because in our darkest moments He is there with us. He said He would NEVER leave nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5).
“Father, when I first came to Christ I had no idea how much my life would change. I had no idea what was going on around me – the spiritual war Holy Spirit through the opening of my spiritual eyes was occurring. Thank You for giving me awareness. Thank you for taking away the planks that were blinding me to Your truth. Please help me to walk in wisdom. Please guide me and help me to be aware. Please protect my heart, my mind and my soul to all the tactics of the enemy. When the enemy comes against me through using a wayward or unknowing loved one to cause injury I pray you help me to walk in forgiveness and love as you have loved and forgiven me. I pray You would protect my heart and help me to see the battle for what it is. Help me to be girded up as You have indicated in Ephesians. Help me to walk in love, I need You Father EVERY DAY, I am constantly aware that my strength is not my own, it comes from You. Protect and keep me Father and be glorified in this life, which I have given over to You. I love You Lord. Forgive me for my sins and for the times I have walked in the flesh and not in the spirit and help me to live for YOU. Holy Spirit, thank you for your guidance. In Jesus precious name I pray. AMEN
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