In the last weeks we have talked a lot about preparation, mortification of the flesh and all of this also having in mind the importance of fasting, because as we have been talking about here, it doesn’t make God nicer, but through the mortification of our flesh our spirit is more attentive and prepared for battle because we are strengthened.
So, to begin with, reflect: how do you fight your wars? With your own strength, with total dependence on God, but forgetting to seek Him? With confidence in the Lord, but doing your part? Well, I am sure that if you have not faced any fight in the last times, you have seen someone else go through one. I say go through because there are those who don’t even fight, they just let themselves fall apart.
But from today on I declare that even if you don’t know where else to get your strength from, you will not give up, you will do your part, preparing yourself and facing every evil that may be happening to you, because even if you are tired, your God is perfect and strong, so when you are weak, you are strong in Him.
Put on the armor of God
Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness 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. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; Praying at all times with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and being watchful in this with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;
Ephesians 6:10-18
The Apostle Paul asserts that our struggle is not against flesh or blood, but against principalities and powers. Only an armor from God can make us victorious in this spiritual battle. And the armor of God sometimes protects us against ourselves, against the lies that we let enter and make a dwelling in our mind and heart. Therefore, the first step in preparing as God’s soldiers is to be clothed.
But how do we do that? Well, we pray to our Lord asking Him to clothe us, and we also take practical attitudes, such as: study the Word, feed our faith, fill ourselves with what comes from above, be persistent in the search for God’s presence, among other practices and disciplines of the Christian life. All power comes from God, but putting on the armor means we seek that power that comes from Him.
The importance of prayer and reading the word
Before I say anything, I want to bring up a song that I learned in Sunday Bible school when I was still very little:
“Read the bible and pray, pray, pray
Read the bible and pray, if you want to grow
If you wanna grow, if you wanna grow
Read the bible and pray if you want to grow
Who don’t pray, and the bible don’t read, and the bible don’t read, and the bible don’t read
Who don’t pray, and the bible don’t read, won’t grow
Won’t grow, won’t grow
Whoever doesn’t pray, and the bible doesn’t read, won’t grow…”
How can you be a battle-ready soldier without reading the bible and praying? When we read the Bible we are spiritually fed, strengthened, and receive direction as we pray about what God has spoken to us. Fighting and winning is only possible if you are praying, reading the bible and fasting. There is no victory apart from the Father, for He is our victory. Fasting, prayer and Bible reading draw us closer to Him and allow His power to flow through us.
Conclusion
You don’t need to fight alone and neither should you. Maybe you are tired of the battle, but you don’t even realize that, in fact, what happens is that you want to fight with your own strength, or you say that you have put everything in God’s hands, but you don’t do what depends on you. None of these ways of acting will bring a solution, because you must be with the Lord, seeking to understand what He wants you to do.
So today I invite you to put yourself in a position where you accept your responsibility, but understand that you don’t fight alone, that you listen to your father’s advice and in this way win your daily battles.
God bless you!
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