Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
This is one of those passages of Scripture that, quite frankly, doesn't have a lot of conversation around it. The reason for this, I think, it because it's sort of mysterious. You can read it and on the surface see what it says and appreciate the general idea of what it means. We know that in the faith we practice following the way of Jesus, there's a lot to do with it that we can't see with our eyes. We are giving our faith to the living God, who in the flesh is no longer with us, but in Spirit we connect to and understand is present in reality.
When you read a verse in the Scriptures that talks about the unseen world, and that there are spirits and powers that we can't see, it sort of registers in our minds. I think the part of it that becomes complicated is that it's a battle that we're waging against these powers.
How Do You Fight an Unseen Enemy?
It makes you ask the question, how do you fight against an enemy that you can't see? I know for me, when I think about this idea, at times it can almost start to feel overwhelming because I desire to give my life to the way of Jesus. I also realize that even as a follower of Jesus, there are times where temptation will rise up in my own life's journey, and it causes me to be in a tension between what my flesh and my sinful desires want, and how to glorify God in my life.
There are things that I see around me all around the world, whether it's on social media or on the news, or in conversations that show there is darkness and evil. Those things are very real in our culture and society. How do I, who am seeking to follow Jesus and follow the leadership of the Spirit, contend against these forces that are very truly against the way of God that I'm pursuing?
Our Supernatural Weapon
One of the biggest things that we need to know is if we're fighting against an unseen enemy that is dwelling in the supernatural, that means that our weapons of warfare need to be the same exact kind. One of the things that I think we under-appreciate is the power of prayer. Sometimes we reduce prayer to simply a request sheet for God. We start asking Him for things, and our prayer is our one mechanism to deliver those requests to Him. Sometimes if we're really feeling good, we can silence ourselves long enough to hear from Him and maybe seek some guidance and direction.
One tool, or weapon, at your disposal is the power of prayer waged against the war of the enemy. When we pray and ask God—according to His Spirit—to show us the things that we need to see with lenses that are not clouded by the things in this world, or by the tactics of the enemy that are attempting to tempt us or distract us. When we start asking God that by His Spirit, according to His will and His ways, that He would strike down those things that the enemy wants to suppress in our lives, and guide us toward the things that are from Him.
Breaking Through the Darkness
When we begin to pray and ask God to give us the strength and the ability to battle against these things that we can't see with our eyes, but know are present in our world, we begin to see breakthrough and the paths start to clear. We, in our own human power, can't fight against something we can't touch. But God, by His power, can break through the darkness and give clarity and hope to what can be dark and oppressive in our lives.
Lean on the power of God. Trust Him in the times of prayer to guide and direct you spiritually in the world that we can't see with our human eyes.
