How to Engage in Spiritual Warfare and Emerge Victorious
In this post, Jaime Hampton gets candid about how to engage in spiritual warfare, the lies she’s believed about it, and how she’s become victorious in this area.
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that although I co-host a podcast about prayer, until very recently, talking about spiritual warfare made me uncomfortable.
Every time we would discuss spiritual warfare, I would get this unsettling feeling, bordering on superstition, that somehow I was putting a target on my back by bringing up Satan at all. Or worse yet, I was putting a target on the backs of my kids, husband, or other beloved people.
Can you relate?
If so, I want to share some of what the Lord has been teaching me, because it has brought me so much freedom from the bondage to what can only be attributed to blatant lies from the Enemy.
Resist the Devil & He Will Flee
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
– James 4:7 (NIV)
Notice the first part of this verse? Submit to God. This means that our spiritual battle doesn’t involve fighting in our own power. If that were the case, we would surely have some worries. But we are fighting under the power and authority of the Almighty God. The Creator of the Universe. And we are covered by the blood of Jesus, whose name causes fear and trembling in the spirit world.
If you’ve read about the Armor of God in Ephesians 6, you’ll remember the “helmet of salvation.” Did you know that Roman helmets often had plumes attached to the tops of them called crista? The Latin word means “crest” and they were used for identification, intimidation, and status display.
When we are saved, we put on spiritual helmets. If I were being clever, I might call our plumes Christa because of the source of our salvation. These plumes are used for identification: we are daughters of the King; intimidation: a reminder to our spiritual enemies whose power is behind us; and status display: we have been given authority by Jesus himself, and he has no equal.
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you.
– Luke 10:19 (NIV)
We are not told in Scripture that when we talk about Satan we will become targets. That might happen if we confront forces of darkness in our own strength. But we are told that because of our God-given authority as believers, because of the Christa-plumes on our spiritual helmets, we need only resist him and he will flee.
Satan is Not God’s Equal or Opposite
Sometimes we think of the battle between good and evil as if Satan is the equal and opposite of God, like a yin-yang relationship.
This is simply not true.
The Bible reminds us over and over that God is above all, and there is nothing in heaven or earth that is His equal. In Job 1, Satan is shown as God’s subordinate, only allowed to operate within the strict boundaries God allows. While he has temporary dominion over earth, he is still in no way God’s equal. His fate is sealed:
And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
– Revelation 20:10 (NIV)
When God is for us, there is absolutely nothing in heaven or on earth that can prevail against us!
God Has Not Given Us a Spirit of Fear
For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.
– 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
If God has not given us a spirit of fear, where is it coming from? What I’ve come to realize is that my fears surrounding spiritual warfare have come from believing lies from Satan himself.
Lie: Satan is capable of holding my family hostage because I choose to fight on God’s side.
Truth: See all of the above! God is greater than Satan. Satan cannot operate outside of God’s boundaries – God is ALWAYS in control. With the plume of Jesus in my spiritual helmet, my spiritual enemies WILL flee.
Lie: I have a safe but small spiritual territory I can operate within. As long as I stay there and pray small prayers, I’ll be safe from trouble.
Truth: Whether I engage in spiritual warfare or not, in this world there will be trouble. And our spiritual territory? It’s HUGE.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
– John 16:33
Read Ephesians 6 and you’ll realize that whether we engage or not, there is a battle raging around us. But our territory is vast, and the funny thing? We don’t have to gain ground; we simply have to realize it’s always been ours and defend it.
Let’s pray that God will open our eyes to the huge spiritual territory that is our birthright! Let’s push the boundaries of our prayers to encompass all of it. And let’s stop praying small and start praying huge, stronghold-breaking, world-changing prayers to see God’s kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven!
How Do You Engage in Spiritual Warfare?
What about you? What lies or half- or twisted-truths have you been believing that have held you back from praying with power and boldness? Which of the truths I shared about how to engage in spiritual warfare resonated most with you? Share in the comments!
Have You Heard About This?
She Prays Like A Girl
One of the biggest lies we’ve been led to believe is that there’s some mysterious “right” way to pray. That, unless you’re doing it exactly like someone else, you’re doing it wrong. The consequence of that lie, is that many women believe prayer is boring and doesn’t make a whole lot of difference. Nothing could be further from the truth. Pick up your copy of Jaime and Alana’s book to learn how to embrace your individuality and pray like a girl.
