Fight the Right Battle

Read

“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.” Ephesians 6:12 NIV

Think

One of the enemy’s most effective tactics is to divide us and turn us against one another. He wants to use conflict, hurt, unforgiveness, and bitterness to separate husbands and wives, parents and children, friends, and even people from the church. When someone hurts us, our natural reaction is often to become defensive, angry, or disappointed; and in those moments, we can easily forget that the person in front of us is not the real enemy.

If you understand the enemy’s strategies, you will be more equipped to fight the right battle. Now, not every conflict is a spiritual attack, but division and unforgiveness can separate us from God and distract us from our purpose. For example, I can choose to love and forgive my husband even when my first instinct is to harbor resentment. I can choose to be patient with my kids and speak life over them. I will lean into my faith community instead of pulling away, refusing to let church hurt isolate me from God’s people.

Fighting the right battle also means looking at our own hearts. Before pointing out someone else’s faults, we need to look at our own. We are sinners too, and we need the same grace we are asking God to give others. When we choose love, forgiveness, humility, and obedience, we refuse to give the enemy the division he is looking for. Obedience to God takes ground from the enemy.

My prayer is that you fight together and use the right weapons to fight the enemy. Use the Word and proclaim God’s truth because God has given us what we need to fight spiritual battles. The Bible tells us to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–18). The belt of truth reminds us to live honestly. The breastplate of righteousness reminds us to walk in obedience. The shield of faith helps us trust God when fear and doubt come. The helmet of salvation protects our minds. We must take our thoughts captive and align them with God’s Word. The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, gives us truth to speak when the enemy lies.

Act

When you face a battle, ask yourself: Am I fighting the right enemy? Sometimes we need to talk and reconcile. Sometimes we need boundaries. Sometimes we need to forgive and give grace. Don’t fight against people. Fight the enemy who wants to pull you away from God and divide you from the people God has placed in your life. Fight the right battle with the weapons God has given you.