Reflections: Lessons from the Battle

During my time of reflection, I thought back on all that the Lord has helped me overcome. By His grace, I am an overcomer. I also considered the fallout from particularly enduring battles. It's often after the dust settles, when the season of warfare has passed that we can clearly assess the fallout.

A person can be endowed with extraordinary talents and gifts to impact the world meaningfully, but life circumstances can shift the trajectory of their path in an instant. That’s why it’s essential to take proper account of the battle's toll.

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The enemy hates meaningful progress

Scripture tells us, "The enemy, the devil, roams around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). He has an insatiable appetite for destruction, and we are warned to "stay sober and alert." If the enemy can't stop you from coming to Jesus, he will do everything he can to cripple your effectiveness as God's vessel. The enemy can cripple you through discouragement, depression, or lack of direction, which can reroute you from the path you were destined. Sadly, the enemy often works through human agents to accomplish his aim, some of whom unknowingly oblige because they are compromised by jealousy and envy. The betrayal from those who like us, are made in God's image can make the battle especially burdensome.

But know this: as long as you have breath in you, your story isn't finished. The enemy doesn't get the final victory. 

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You were created with a purpose!

If the Spirit of God is alive in you, then the enemy has no legal right to take what God has secured for you! It is your inheritance as a child of God to receive all that the Father has for you, both in this life and in the next!

Beloved, you don’t have to live below the standard of what is available to you. This is not an exhortation to self-entitlement, this is a call to walk in the fullness of your identity. When life demands it, you must fight to take back everything the enemy has stolen. 

Take your purpose back!

Take your destiny back! 

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You are an heir in Christ Jesus!

Every spiritual blessing is available to you because your heavenly Father is rich in glory and delights to bestow good gifts to His children! His fulfillment of His promises over your life brings glory to His name!

In my experience of prolonged warfare, I noticed the aftermath had its effect on my prayer life. My prayers never ceased, but it waned in fervency. And because I withdrew to avoid persistent external interference, the preaching of the word of God was restrained. In preaching, we proclaim the word of God through speech and deed. But in spite of the bruises of battle, I continue to stand on what I believe in the depths of my soul to be true: God is good! He stands with us in the fire and raging waters, His love never departs from us. When God is our trust we cannot be overtaken!

We may not always understand our circumstances but we can draw lessons from it. My experiences have taught me that prayer and preaching are weapons during warfare that we can't afford to relinquish because through them we proclaim the word of God. Prayer and the word of God are our greatest spiritual weapons!

Beloved, knowing what's at stake, it's imperative we don't surrender our rights to the enemy. We must stand our ground on the word and promises of God to reclaim everything he's tried to steal. 

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Jesus is our Redeemer!

The Lord may be redeeming your circumstances right now even though you haven't yet seen the full manifestation of it. Remain faithful in prayer and well-doing. And as you move forward, move with wisdom: the enemy has studied your patterns, so as you review the attacks, learn his, and avoid the same traps! You may feel weak as you regain your stride, but remember: He who said, "I will never leave you or forsake you," is with you. He will make you strong as you abide in Him. That's the heritage we have in Christ Jesus, He finishes what He begins in us when we are earnest in walking with Him. 

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." —Romans 8:37

"Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." —Ephesians 3:20–21