I have been thinking about tactics for fighting spiritual battles this week, after two recent, devastating shootings in the U.S. I hope this post gives you a different and valuable perspective on this difficult topic. You will find practical help for your own spiritual battles below.
The Source of Spiritual Battles
With the frequency of active shooters intensifying around the world, I’ve been pondering the why’s, like many of you.
I have yet to hear this possible explanation in the media, or even in church: Maybe active shooters are possessed by evil spirits.
These troubled individuals often have many other problems. Antisocial behavior. Mental instability. Broken childhoods. But perhaps, they are so far away from God, that they become prime targets for Satan to inhabit them. They become pawns in the worldwide spiritual battle with their evil acts.
In Jesus’ day, there were several people who were inhabited by evil spirits. These people wreaked havoc on their communities. We would probably label them mentally ill in our current terminology. They were unfit to live in normal society.
This story in Mark 5 about a certain man controlled by evil spirits has long intrigued me. He was unable to live with people and slowly destroying himself–much like the active shooters of today.
Jesus has the power to cast out evil spirits. He cast the evil spirits out of this man for his glory. People were astounded to see this man clothed and sane after his healing. His testimony had amazing power!
Active shooters become pawns in the worldwide spiritual battle with their evil acts. #spiritualwarfare #spiritualbattle Click To Tweet
5 Key Tactics for Fighting Spiritual Battles
When I was a secretary at a high school a few years ago, I had to go through active shooter response training. I’m realizing the correlations to active shooter response training and spiritual warfare today. I’d like to equip you with what I’ve learned so you can fight your spiritual battles with greater power.
Pray with fervor.
When I worked at a Christian high school, I regularly prayed that God would protect our school. I had a vested interest as an employee, of course. I also cared deeply about the students and fellow staff members. After years of being a prayer warrior in my personal faith walk, I knew that the power of prayer would work better than anything else to thwart an attack from a threatening person.
I am encouraging you today to pray that God will bind the power of evil spirits in your community. I regularly pray this over my children’s schools and all the other schools in our area. This is what I pray when I head to the mall for shopping, attend a big event like a St. Louis Cardinals game, or travel to a different area. Get in the habit of praying against the influence of evil spirits, and you’ll be actively engaged in spiritual warfare against Satan and his minions. I pray too that many lives would be changed for God’s glory, and that testimonies of spiritual rescue will amaze and inspire others.
Pray that God will bind the power of evil spirits in your community. #powerofprayer #spiritualwarfare Click To Tweet
Pay close attention.
In the active shooter response training I experienced, the sheriff demonstrated how a gun sounds when fired inside a building. It was far quieter than I would have ever expected…more like a box dropping off a shelf or a door slamming. Not a deafening explosion, to my surprise.
We must be vigilant in noticing Satan’s schemes. They may look, feel or sound different than we first expect. The more you learn about spiritual warfare, the more sensitive you will be to his tricks and lies. When you know his methods, you will not be taken by surprise when he attacks.
We must be vigilant in noticing the enemy's schemes. They may look, feel or sound different than we first expect. #spiritualbattlefield #spiritualbattle Click To Tweet
Don’t sit still.
The sheriffs told us that one of the reasons Sandy Hook Elementary had so many casualties is because the teachers instructed students to sit still and huddle together on the floor. They sadly became sitting targets for the shooter.
While our natural reaction to a spiritual attack is to freeze, it puts us in grave danger. It’s better to fight back with the powers God gives us (see Ephesians 6 for a detailed description of spiritual armor).
While our natural reaction to a spiritual attack is to freeze, it puts us in grave danger. It's better to fight back with the powers God gives us in his Word. #spiritualattack Click To Tweet
Don’t fight alone.
In our live classroom training, the sheriff taught us to fight as a group. We could grab whatever we wanted as weapons–books, staplers, desks, binders. The more of us willing to fight back, the more likely that we could take down the shooter without incident.
We cannot fight spiritual battles as effectively on our own. As I prepare for my book launch, I know that spiritual warfare is imminent, since Satan does not want my book to enlighten readers about spiritual warfare. I’m relying on several teams of people to cover me in prayer. Prayer is one of the very best weapons in fighting against our spiritual enemy. I encourage you to share your prayer requests with others. You will be able to defeat the devil faster when others are helping you.
Prayer is one of the very best weapons in fighting against our spiritual enemy. #prayer #powerofprayer #spiritualwarfare Click To Tweet
Fight with intention.
The sheriff studied my work environment at the school. I sat in the reception area, surrounded by windows, near the front door. He said, “Unfortunately, you are sitting in a glass house, also the most vulnerable area in the school.” However, he taught me exactly what to do. He said I needed to run down the administrative hallway in a zig-zag pattern and take one of the doors that led outside ASAP. By running zig-zag instead of in a straight line, I would decrease the active shooter’s potential of hitting me. (Thankfully, I never had to deal with a real active shooter, and I’m blessed to work from home now!)
The more open you are about your faith, the more vulnerable of a position you are in for spiritual attacks. However, this should not discourage you–it should motivate you to have a detailed battle plan. You need to discover your own zig-zag pattern for dodging the enemy’s slings of fiery arrows. Ask God exactly what you need to do to fight back, and he will give you wisdom.
The more open you are about your faith, the more vulnerable of a position you are in for spiritual attacks. #spiritualwarfare #spiritualgrowth Click To TweetI know you’ll have feedback for me this week on such a dynamic topic! I’m interested in hearing your thoughts in the comments, and I hope you’ll check out the helpful links below for more information on spiritual warfare.
Video: A Surprising Way to Fight Spiritual Battles
How to Stand Firm During Spiritual Attacks
We can learn several powerful lessons from Job’s spiritual attack that will help us stand firm in our own struggles.
5 Ways to Engage in Spiritual Warfare
To engage in spiritual warfare, we can apply these five truths from 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NLT.
How to Fight Spiritual Battles
Tips you can use from three Old Testament stories for fighting spiritual battles.
How to Conquer Temptation with God’s Word
I pull five truths from the Bible that you can use when facing temptation.
How to Fiercely Fight for Your Marriage
Is your marriage being assaulted by a spiritual attack? Find practical help in this post.
Best Bible Study on Spiritual Warfare
My friend Misty Phillip has written an excellent Bible study to help you fight spiritual battles. Read her interview here.
Best Prayer Resources for Spiritual Warfare
Here are eight different resources to help you fight spiritual warfare in prayer.
Would you like me to pray for you as you face spiritual warfare? It would be my honor and privilege to do so. Simply contact me here with your prayer requests, which are kept strictly confidential.
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