5 Ways Most of Us Are Unprepared for Spiritual Battles
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Spiritual battles happen throughout our Christian walk. And while we can be equipped, there will still be times when spiritual battles catch us off guard. We have to start being more prepared, equipped, and ready to fight in any spiritual battle. Satan and his demons will do their best to usurp our effectiveness for Christ, which is why we need to be prepared for spiritual attacks.
The main way we can fight spiritual battles is by putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). The Apostle Paul tells us, “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.” As Paul tells us here, by putting on the full armor of God, we will be able to take our stand against the devil and his schemes.
If we never put on the full armor of God, we will never be prepared for spiritual battles or attacks. We need the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and to pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:14-18). To ensure that you are ready for anything that comes your way, make sure you are putting on your spiritual armor.
Without our armor, we will be vulnerable to the attacks of the devil. God has not left us alone in our battles as He is always walking beside us. In addition to the armor of God, we have also been given the Bible, through which we can learn everything we need to know to stand strong in the face of spiritual attacks. In fact, the Word of God is included within the full armor of God as it is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17).
If you find yourself in a place today where you are unprepared for spiritual battles, know that you are not alone. Many believers are unprepared for these types of attacks, but the good news is that we can change this. We can take our stand and take the necessary steps to be prepared. But in order to do this, we have to know what we are doing wrong.
Here are five ways most Christians are unprepared for spiritual battles.
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1. Not Reading the Bible
One way most Christians are unprepared for spiritual battles is because they are not reading the Bible. Bible reading is the main way the Lord talks with us. If we are failing to go to Him in His Word, we will not be prepared for when spiritual battles arise. If we start reading the Bible daily and study it, we will be more ready when spiritual battles are at our doorsteps.
The Bible contains everything we need to know (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Within this knowledge, we also learn to be more ready for spiritual battles. In other words, the more we read the Bible, the more knowledgeable we will become. We cannot expect to be ready for spiritual attacks if we are ignoring the very thing that will help us.
The Bible is intimidating for many people. It’s a thick book and includes an impressive 66 books within its pages. But you do not have to read the entire Bible in one sitting. Read a passage or a chapter each day and you will be on your way of learning more about the Bible. This in turn, will help you to be ready to take your stand against Satan and his schemes. Without reading the Bible, you will not be prepared against his attacks.
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2. Not Having a Personal Relationship with Jesus
A second way most Christians are unprepared for spiritual battles is because they do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. It is important to note that a person can be saved, yet neglect spending time with the Lord. Everyone should want to have a personal relationship with Jesus after they are saved; however, for many people, their top priority is not the Lord. If this is true for you, it is vital to examine your life and remove any idols (Exodus 20:4). An idol is anything you have set above Jesus, which can also include good things, such as marriage, a child, or even a hobby.
Once you are aware of an idol in your life, recognize how important it is to shift your focus to Jesus, and make Him your top priority. Start spending time with Him everyday and cultivate your relationship with Him. With time, you will grow to have a personal relationship with Christ, which will help you be more prepared for spiritual battles. Since you are talking with Him in prayer and including Him in your everyday life, you will be able to talk to Him about any spiritual attacks and ask for His help.
A personal relationship with Jesus will change your entire life and cause you to want to live for Him. By living for Him, you will become more aware of spiritual attacks from the devil. Instead of being oblivious to them, you will be able to face them without fear. Jesus gives you courage and He will be with you every step of the way. Having a personal relationship with Jesus gives you this assurance and the confidence to be ready for any battle.
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3. Failing to Put on the Full Armor of God
A third way most Christians are unprepared for spiritual battles is they are failing to put on the full armor of God. As mentioned earlier, a Christian has to put on the full armor of God everyday in order to take their stand against the devil (Ephesians 6:10-18). This spiritual armor is stronger than any other type of physical armor. It has the ability to protect you as well as to keep you strong. All of this is only possible because of the Lord.
Every morning when you wake up, you need to put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and to pray in the Spirit at all times. By doing these things, you will be prepared when evil comes lurking. As Christians, we do not have to be ignorant of this, as ignorance will only lead to more battles and attacks.
Instead of being reactive, we need to be proactive. A great way to do this is to consistently put on the full armor of God. While it can be strenuous to do, it is needed. We have to turn it into a habit and a spiritual discipline in order to ensure we continue to put on the full armor of God everyday. Similar to any new healthy habit, it can be hard to maintain, but it is something that has many benefits. Just as a healthy diet and exercise helps keep the body strong, spiritual discipline, such as putting on the full armor of God, keeps us strong in our fight against the evil forces in the world.
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4. Ignoring the Holy Spirit
A fourth way most Christians are unprepared for spiritual battles is because they are ignoring the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Trinity, yet He is often overlooked. It is worth mentioning here that the Holy Spirit is God (2 Corinthians 13:14; 2 Peter 1:21; John 14:25-26). This means that He is able to help us in all of our struggles as well as give us direction, guidance, and advice. It is crucial for us to know that the Holy Spirit is God.
It is also important to praise the Holy Spirit and thank Him for all that He does. The Holy Spirit lives inside of all believers, yet not every believer is listening to Him. As one can imagine, this can lead to many problems. Ignoring the guidance of the Holy Spirit will only cause you issues. Once you start listening to Him, you will be more equipped to face any spiritual battle.
If you are struggling with listening to the Holy Spirit, ask Him to help you. Acknowledge your dependence on Him and ask Him to help you hear Him better. Ask Him to set aside all of the other thoughts in your head and help your mind to just focus on Him. The more you focus on Him and pay attention to what He says, the better you will become at fighting spiritual battles.
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5. Not Being Active in Prayer
A fifth way most Christians are unprepared for spiritual battles is because they are not active in prayer. If a Christian is not active in prayer, they will not be ready when spiritual battles start. Rather than being firmly rooted in the Lord, they will be vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. This is why it is important to be active in prayer everyday. Pray about the things that you are worried, scared, or frustrated about. In the same way, pray about the things that give you joy and bring a smile to your face.
Pray to the Lord because it is a direct line of communication to Him. We must not take this privilege for granted; it is a great blessing to be able to talk with the Lord. The more you talk with Him in prayer, the more you will trust Him and rest in the peace that He will be fighting right beside you in every spiritual battle. You are never alone in your battles as God is always present. He will strengthen you and give you victory.
Start today trying to be active in prayer and see how it helps you. Not only will it help you be more prepared for spiritual battles, but it will also deepen your relationship with God and help your faith to grow. Every Christian needs to be talking with God everyday because He is the One who can help you in your spiritual battles. Spiritual battles can be scary, but not when you know that God is on your side. Go to Him in prayer, ask Him to strengthen you, and allow Him to prepare you for every spiritual battle.
There are many things Christians can do to better prepare ourselves for spiritual battles. Unfortunately, we fall short in many of these areas. Five ways that most Christians are unprepared for spiritual battles are not reading the Bible, not having a personal relationship with Jesus, failing to put on the full armor of God, ignoring the Holy Spirit, and not being active in prayer. Take a look at your own life and see what areas need work, so that you can be more prepared for what is to come.
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