For many Christians around the world, this current season of COVID19 lockdowns, political uprisings, race riots, natural disasters, religious persecution and more has led to struggles with stress, anxiety, loneliness, shame, depression, and hopelessness. These external causes are leading to major internal effects. I do not believe this demonstrates a lack of faith, in believers, as stress is a normal part of life. I do see, however, a lack of understanding among many, that we are in a season of mass spiritual warfare! By looking at these issues only from the human perspective, too many of us are not realizing the stakes, and losing the battle.

 Mindset Matters

Often in our ministry in East Africa, we are called to do ministry in the realm of deliverance and exorcism. Thanks to Hollywood portrayals, it is pictures of extreme demonic possessions that many people think of when they hear “spiritual warfare.” However realistic (or not) those portrayals may be, that is actually only a small part of spiritual warfare. The battle starts well before someone gets “possessed” and manifests those extreme displays. The most basic level of spiritual warfare begins in the mind.

We should realize that the Bible has a lot to say about our mindset, and the outworking thereof. Just notice the simple commands given to believers in the New Testament:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:2

“…put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Ephesians 4:22-24

“(You) have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”

Colossians 3:10

More could be listed, but I believe you get the point. The way we live out our new identity in Christ and become conformed to His image is directly tied to the continual renewing of our minds.

What You Behold You Become

There is a principle in scripture which teaches that “what you behold, you become.” This is true whether we are looking at holy things or at worldly things. As something continually grabs our attention, eventually it captures our hearts, informs our desires, and then becomes our pursuit. This is why the Bible tells us to think on Holy things, and to fix our eyes on Jesus!

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Philippians 4:8

“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…”

Hebrews 12:1-2

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 3:18

This is the starting place for believers to win the spiritual war. The devil’s attacks come against every person with one goal in mind: to steal, kill, and destroy us (John 10:10). So we shouldn’t be thinking of spiritual warfare only in terms of demonic manifestations, curses, and witchcraft. His schemes are much broader and much more crafty than that. If the enemy can capture our minds with false idols, fear and anxieties, or ungodly pursuits, he knows he can get a foothold in our lives.

Spiritual Warfare Begins in the Mind

The devil’s first front of attack is your mind. He wants to put thoughts in your head which lead to stress, anxiety, fear, etc. Just as he led Adam and Eve to doubt what God had spoken and led them in temptation to eat the fruit, He ultimately wants to take your eyes off of Jesus and all the promises of God over your life, and lead you into a place of distrust. Just look at every message coming your way from the world on any given day. The avenue doesn’t matter: news media, social networks, community gossip, political messaging, television and movie themes. The world system is designed to lead you to doubt the Word of the Lord, and turn your faith away from Him. As I have said many times, fear is faith in the devil rather than God. The same is true of anxiety, depression, hopelessness, etc.

The good news is that the Lord has given us the ability to withstand every one of these mental attacks which comes from the enemy! The better news is that it doesn’t require us to engage in facebook arguments or march and counter-march in major social movements. It simply requires us to bring every thought into submission to Him.

“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. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

Once our minds are free from the devil’s mental and emotional attacks, we are free to step into the battle ourselves by intercession and prayer, and then acting on whatever the Holy Spirit speaks to us to do.

We Must Prepare Ourselves for Battle

When the Apostle Paul was giving his final charge to the church at Ephesus, he wanted them to be equipped for every form of spiritual warfare that would come their way. He warned them that this battle was going to come against them all, and that they must be prepared for battle.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

Ephesians 6:10-13

Just like the Ephesian believers, I believe the greatest thing we can do as Christians today is to wake up every morning and make sure we are clothed in the full armor of God.

The Armor of God

As we enter this new blog series on spiritual warfare, this will be our aim, to dismantle the false armor the enemy wants to trick us into wearing, and to replace it, each day, with the armor God gives us to protect our mind, our emotions, and our actions in the world. Over the next few weeks we will look in detail at each piece of God’s armor and how it protects an aspect of your being:

• the belt of truth,
• the breastplate of righteousness, 
• The shoes of the gospel of peace,
• the shield of faith,
• the helmet of salvation, 
• and the sword of the Spirit;
• as well as praying in the Spirit.

My prayer is that by the end of this series, you will stand victorious over your fears, anxieties, depressions and hopelessness, in this current season and beyond. May God give us the grace!

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Click here to go to part 2: The Armor of God.

Photo by Henry Hustava on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”