Let’s first start by talking a little about spiritual warfare. It can be summed up pretty well by one verse.
Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places.”
So what does this actually mean? I could go on talking about spiritual warfare for days, but to get to the point of what this blog is really about, I will try to explain in a few words.
Ephesians 6:12 is explaining that when we are angry, sad, or annoyed it isn’t because other people have made us feel this way. It is because of the devil! The devil and his evil spirits make us believe that people have offended us in some way. It’s that negative force that causes friendships to end, and families to fall apart. The devil manipulates us into become annoyed with people causing us to turn our backs on the ones that we love, the ones that God is calling us into a deeper relationship with.
Spiritual Warfare is something that God has been teaching me about for a little over a year now. It was a very big topic for the Lord and I during my time in Africa. He told me how important it was to pray the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:12-20) over myself daily to protect me from the attacks of the devil. After having to leave Blantyre, I was broken. The spiritual warfare was so heavy in Nhkata Bay. (Where a lot of sin takes place such as drunkenness, orgies, lies, use of mind altering substances, doors are opened for evil spirits to dwell causing heavy spiritual warfare). All of these sins were common in the hostel and area where I was living. God opened my eyes making me aware of it. I was in constant prayer against the warfare going on around me, but this changed when I moved to Guatemala. My physical living conditions were so much nicer than Africa, making me feel that I didn’t need to pray against spiritual warfare.
Because I was not protecting myself from the darts of the devil, he slowly began to take over my thoughts. He told me constantly that I was worthless, too incompetent to do anything meaningful, wasn’t making a difference in anyone’s life, should just go home, was ugly, and needed other people’s attention, making me weak. It all became too much and I became so spiritually depressed. All I wanted to do was quit and go home.
It was at this time that I heard a talk that changed my relationship with God and the way I view myself forever! The seminar discussed how Christ lived within us, which I had heard many times before. Yet, this speaker said something that changed my whole perspective: you do not have to ask God for what the Spirit has already provided within you. Instead, thank Him for His goodness!
As I went through this spiritual depression, I begged God to give me confidence, joy, peace, patience, among many other things. Every morning I would beg Him to fill me with these things so that I could get through my day. However, since I was begging for them, I didn’t believe that they were inside of me. I was WRONG! No one has to ask or beg to be filled with these things.
The Holy Spirit already lives within me so I do not have to ask for anything!
Instead, I have to remind myself who I am through God.
I am beautiful.
I am patient.
I carry joy and peace.
I am smart.
I can do anything through Christ.
God created my words to hold weight, and I will only speak life into myself and other people.
When I speak truth over myself I am able to walk in the freedom of who I am in God!
God then gave me this picture of myself falling to my knees in shame in front of Him. As I fell, I did not dare raise my eyes and look into God’s face. Then, He began to pull these negative thoughts out of me. They were pieces of cloth tied together. God pulled and pulled till there was nothing else inside of me. I was empty and transparent, like glass. He then lifted my chin, and our eyes met. Pulling me to my feet, it began to rain. However, this wasn’t normal rain. The rain was all of God’s truths and blessings. We began to dance together as His beautiful truths overflowed from within me!
God told me I was renewed and that from this point on the way I think and live my life will change. He also told me that because of my renewal of my mind, I will have a renewal in the way I view and help others.
I was reminded that my confidence and identity comes from God, and God ALONE!
I was reminded that I was fearfully and wonderfully created by the maker of Heaven and Earth.
I was reminded that this life is not my own. I was created to die to flesh and live for God!
All of these truths are same for you! YOU ARE LOVED! YOU ARE WORTHY! There is nothing that you could ever say or do to earn or lose God’s love, faithfulness, and salvation! The one who died for your sin and rose from the dead three days later lives within you! Walk in that truth reminding yourself that your confidence and identity comes from Christ alone! There is a joy and peace from knowing this truth that you will never be able to find through anything else!
YOU ARE WORTHY!
YOU ARE LOVED!
YOU CAN NEVER EARN OR LOSE IT!
