Hey everyone! I am currently falling more and more in love with Serbia every passing day! I love the church we are working with this month. The staff has such a huge heart for their community and their passion is inspiring! With that said I am going to jump right in on a subject thats been on my heart the past month and a half.
This past Sunday the young adults pastor spoke on spiritual warfare and the importance of praying and keeping yourself covered in the armor of God. It was a timely message for me, as my family, my team and myself have been experiencing a lot of spiritual warfare recently. So much so that my team set a goal of starting our day in prayer together and praying the armor of God on every morning.
Personally I have been struggling with feeling burnt out, tired, overwhelmed and overall feeling of wanting to give up. The crazy thing is, I know that’s not my heart or personality and really just not me.
I recognize that this is spiritual warfare. To be honest, I’ve always known spiritual warfare to be a reality but I haven’t felt very equipped in praying against it. I have spent a lot of time looking at what the Bible has to say about spiritual warfare and I want to share some of what I’ve been learning.
1. Spiritual warfare is real, so put on your armor.
We are told to put on our armor- And that there is a battle.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. Ephesians 6:10-12
We as Christians did not sign up for an easy life but rather a life in pursuit of God and to live to glorify His name! When we became Christians we signed up for a battle. Meaning there are sure, set in stone trials ahead. God doesn’t promise an easy life free of trouble, God warns us of trials to come. But by God’s grace, we have been given the tools to over come!
2. God has the victory
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:55-58
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 2 Timothy 1:7-8
We fight from a place of peace and victory because God has already won!
3. There are trials
A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. Psalms 34:19
Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 2 Corinthians 4:8-12
God cares about our character. Character is often shaped through trials. We have to fight our ways through trials of many kinds but God has given us the gift of grace to be able to overcome. God is always with us and working all things for our good. But don’t confuse good with comfort. God is working things for us to be more like him and for our lives to reflect His glory.
4. Identity and sonship. Know your freedom!
When you feel lies sneaking in about your character and about where God has delivered you from remember who God says you are and your identity in Him. You are a child of God, a friend of Jesus and a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit!
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this; while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Because those who are led by the spirit of God are the sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the spirit of sonship and by Him we cry Abba Father. Romans 8:14-15
In the same way count yourselves dead to sin but alive to Christ. Romans 6:11
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. In accordance with the riches of Gods grace, that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:7-8
Now the Lord is the spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17
God knew exactly who we were when we came to Him and who we are now. We are new creations, dead to sin and alive to Christ. We are covered and washed clean in the blood of Jesus Christ. WE ARE FREE. Don’t let the enemy tell you any different!
5. Plan/purpose.
For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
When you are feeling lack of purpose or lies over your future( is it worth it to be here, do I even make a difference) Those are lies of the enemy! How can you tell you might ask? It completely contradicts the word of the Lord. God’s voice is kind, loving and life giving. Know His voice. Get in scripture and prayer! The Lord has a beautiful purpose for each individual person on this earth. He has a plan to give you a hope and a future!
My friend and team leader does a really cool and effective thing she does when she feels lies creeping back in so I’m going to do it on here. Its a cool tool to use to speak truth into your situations.
I can now look back on my past and say.
My name is Megan Nichole Vanlandeghem.
I am a child of God.
I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God.
I’m no longer a slave to depression, I am a child of God.
I’m no longer a slave to perfectionism, I am a child of God.
I’m no longer a slave to shame, I am a child of God.
I’m no longer a slave to generational problems, I am a child of God.
I’m no longer a slave to worthlessness, I am a child of God.
My name is Megan Nichole Vanlandeghem and I am a child of God, Free, Redeemed, Loved, Washed clean in the blood of Jesus.
So with all that said this isn’t some perfect formula, it’s just my journaled thoughts with the Lord. A real talk moment of where I’m at. If you are fighting a battle right now. Stand on Gods truth and claim your identity. You never have to fight your battles alone, God is alongside you and He has the victory!
