Prepared for Battle

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

If war teaches us anything, it’s that thorough preparation of both soldiers and machinery are indispensable for victory. That’s why the armed forces put on mock battles. They know that if you enter the battlefield ill-prepared, victory is unlikely. With that understanding, Generals do everything possible to prepare their men and women for victory.

The same is true in spiritual warfare. Your victory is directly proportional to how well you are prepared. Paul told the Ephesian “soldiers” to find their strength in the Lord [Ephesians 6:10], and to put on His armor [6:11]. To be victorious, you must rely on Him and fully appropriate His spiritual resources.

When spiritual battles come your way, and they will, it’s too late to prepare. There are no mock battles in spiritual warfare. If your armor isn’t in place, you are vulnerable to the “fiery darts” of the enemy [6:12]. If you neglect prayer, worship, Bible study, accountability, and the other disciplines of faith, what expectation can you have to be victorious when spiritual skirmishes arise?

What soldier worth his salt would go to a battlefield unprepared? None who value their life. Shouldn’t that be true of Christ followers too? How much more should we prepare to fight against the schemes of the devil? Sure, the Bible declares that ultimate victory is ours. But you will lose many individual skirmishes if you are unprepared. The truth is, you may even languish in long periods of spiritual lethargy, impotence, and ineffectiveness, which is opposite of our mandate to “fight the good fight of faith” [1 Timothy 1:18].

Don’t be caught unprepared. Be on guard. Armor on. Weapons ready. Always be alert to the advances of an enemy described as a “roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” [1st Peter 5:8].

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11