Ephesians 6:12
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Wrestling is an intense face-to-face, hand-to-hand endeavor with one person exerting force and strength against another. That word picture helps us understand the intensity of every believer’s spiritual struggles. Like it or not, the battles you and I face are up close and personal, and developing a strategy is essential.
The apostle Paul said he was not ignorant of Satan’s devices, and we shouldn’t be either. We must educate ourselves on his overall tactics and, more importantly, the specific ones devised for us. Please don’t fall prey to the deceptive belief that Satan isn’t interested in you because you don’t feel his influence. Satan rarely attacks openly. He’s subtle. He’d like you to believe your opponent is someone other than himself—a spouse, child, or work supervisor. But think again. Behind those conflicts are spiritual forces fueling the fire.
Ancient wrestlers oiled their bodies to prevent their opponents from gaining any kind of hold. I like this strategy. Ephesians 4:27 commands don’t “give place to the devil.” That applies to any sin, including those arising during the heat of an argument. Those handholds should be dealt with when they surface. Don’t nurse them, don’t coddle them—confront them!
Resolve to anoint your mind and coat your heart with specific Scriptures pertinent to the situation. In doing so, you’ll become agile and, dare I say, slippery. Then your adversary can maneuver all he wants, but you’ll have given him nowhere to grab and pin you down. And that is a victory!
Awaiting His Return,
– Pastor Jack
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