Over the past few years I have started to learn how to recognize spiritual warfare and ways to combat the schemes of the enemy.
I feel like many of us often forget how the enemy works. We don’t realize the power he possess and the ways he will use it against us. And I think we are often naive because we are not taught how much the spiritual can affect our physical.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Does that mean every hardship, sickness, inconvenience, and struggle we face is from spiritual warfare? I don’t know.
Personally I don’t think that when you stub your toe or get a scratch that the enemy is attacking you. But the larger illnesses and struggles that arise very well may be the enemy working against you.
Just look at the book of Job.
Everything that Job went through was the enemy attacking him. Satan wanted to turn Job away from God. Every sickness, family member’s death, and each hardship was to drive Job away from following the Lord and walking in His Spirit.
That’s why the enemy will put spiritual warfare on you too. And that is why we need to learn to recognize it.
So how do you recognize spiritual warfare in your life?
This will probably to be difficult to start out with but will get easier over time. First, ask the Lord for wisdom in recognizing the enemy’s attacks.
We need to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11)
If you’re family is feeling out of sync because of what’s happening in your life, if a terrible sickness hits, if you are feeling depressed for some reason, if you are waking up randomly at night, if you feel like your faith and relationship with the Lord is lacking, or if you are facing struggle after struggle that all may be spiritual warfare from the enemy.
Also spiritual warfare will come up more during certain times of the year. That is because those who follow the devil are working harder during certain seasons and holidays. Knowing when those are will help you recognize when spiritual warfare will be more prominent in your life.
If you want to learn more about spiritual warfare, types of strongholds from the enemy, and ways to combat them check out this book. It is a good resource to help begin this journey of recognizing spiritual warfare.
And how do we combat spiritual warfare?
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 tells us, “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.“
Our weapons for spiritual warfare are prayer and truth.
We need to put on the whole armor of God like it tells us in Ephesians 6. And then we need to combat with prayer.
Our prayers are powerful. We have authority to combat the enemy with our prayers.
That’s why I am so passionate about anointing and praying over my home. I have seen the affects of this act when it comes to spiritual warfare. If you want to learn more about how to anoint your home check out this guide.
We need to stay watchful so we can recognize spiritual warfare and combat it with truth.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
This post was not extensive. There is so much more to say and things to dive into on the topic of spiritual warfare. But I hope that this got you started so you can see the enemy coming.
