How To Win Spiritual Battles

Jesus tells opponents in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark that bad thoughts come from the heart, i.e. the mind. Their issue was that the government was in charge of their thoughts “Because they didn't believe the gospel, they were dubbed “gods of this world”:

…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, preventing them from seeing the light of the gospel of Christ's glory, who is the image of God.

…the prince of the air's power, the spirit at work in the sons of disobedience right now.

And, despite the fact that you were before estranged and hostile in attitude, committing wicked activities…

But there is still hope!! There is a cure for a mind that is antagonistic to God, whose thoughts are the same as everyone else's in the world “world” with the values and attitudes of society. We are reconciled to God through faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Yet, by death, He has reconciled you to Himself in His fleshly form, in order to bring you before Him spotless, faultless, and without reproach—

You don't have to be enslaved by thoughts that drag you down in despair and leave you feeling hopeless in this life. The Holy Spirit dwells in you when you believe the gospel and are set apart to God. He gives you the strength to change.

By changing the way we think, we can change our minds. Our minds can be reformed to live in an intimate connection with God, according to Romans 12:2.

And don't be conformed to this world, but be changed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may demonstrate what God's will is, what is good, acceptable, and perfect.

But I've believed the Gospel? Why do I still think the way I do? I'm so frustrated!

The difficulty is that there is now a spiritual warfare battle for your mind. It's a war in which the adversary understands that if he can control your thoughts, he can control your actions. In this spiritual battle, Satan tries to divert your attention away from God's truth so that he can derail and destroy your life. Satan wants you to think thoughts that are not in accordance with God's Word.

What are the enemy's goals?

Satan's primary purpose is to prevent non-Christians from accepting Jesus Christ's truth. He seeks to render Christians ineffectual; he wants to cast doubt on God's love, Christ's deity, and the efficacy of Jesus' atonement for our sins. He's ruthless and always on the lookout for anyone he can annihilate.

According to First Peter 5:8, “Keep a level head and be on the lookout. The devil, your adversary, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat.” The noun “The word “prowls” is in the Greek present tense, which meaning “to be on the lookout.” The opponent is always on the lookout, hoping to beat us in combat. He wants to insult God's name, and he wants us to turn and dishonor God as well.

How does he attack us personally?

Christians are expected to demonstrate their love by the way they live out their faith. Jesus proclaims in John 13:35, “If you have love for one another, all men will know you are My disciples.” The enemy's goal is to make Christians look indistinguishable from the rest of the world by encouraging division, infighting, and alienation. The enemy is the first to blame us before God once that divide has taken hold.

Then, in heaven, I heard a loud voice say, “Now our God's redemption, power, and kingdom, as well as the authority of His Christ, have come, since the accuser of our brethren, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been thrown down.”

Even while we walk in the flesh, we do not fight in the flesh, because the weapons of our warfare are divinely powerful and designed to destroy fortresses. We're killing hypotheses and every lofty thing that stands in the way of God's knowledge, and we're enslaving every thinking to Christ's obedience.

How can I protect my mind?

God has provided us with spiritual armor to assist us protect our minds in spiritual warfare. The components of the armor God has given us to be strong in spiritual conflicts are described in Ephesians 6.

• Put on all of God's armor so that you can stand steadfast in the face of the devil's plans.
• Because our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, powers, world forces of this darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the high realms.
• As a result, put on the entire armor of God so that you might resist in the evil day and, having done everything, stand firm.
• So, having girded your loins with truth and putting on the breastplate of righteousness, stand firm.
• Furthermore, you must take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all of the evil one's fire darts.
• Take the salvation helmet and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's word.

The Full Armor of God

Notice Ephesians 6:10-11, which states to be strong in His strength rather than your own. The Greek verb “endunamoo” means “to be strong.” It's stated in the passive form, which means we get the action; literally, God empowers us and we get His strength. It is the Lord's action, not ours, that is taking place. The only thing we can do is put on God's spiritual armor.

What are battles for your mind?

Spiritual warfare and personal attacks are both used to fight for your mind. Paul describes how a spiritual struggle looks and how he responds to it in 2 Corinthians.

How do we take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ?

Philippians 4:8 explains how to bring every thinking under the control of Christ's obedience.

Finally, friends, reflect on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, beautiful, of good repute, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise.

Paul advises us to think on the following things in order to win our mental battles:

whatever is well-known (praiseworthy, rings true to the highest standards)

Compare your thoughts to Philippians 4:8's list of items to consider. Stop dwelling on or thinking about something troubling and “Philippians-4:8” it and “frisk” your thoughts if you find yourself doing so. Check to see if they're dangerous, or if they might jeopardize your relationship with God or others.

“Impossible!” you may be thinking at this point. No one can be in complete control of their thoughts. There are some things you just can't stop thinking about.” To some extent, this is correct. However, there are two factors to keep in mind:

• First and foremost, this is God's battle, fought in God's might and with God's armor. As a result, we remain steady and trust in the Lord.
• Second, we can only concentrate on one item at a time. What you're thinking about right now should be changed. Fill your mind with Scripture and use Philippians 4:8 to assess negative thoughts.

How do I clear my mind of these thoughts?

Scripture memory can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Here are some pointers to help you get started.

• Write scriptures on 35 index cards and read them over and over until the words are ingrained in your mind.
• Frequently read the Bible. Some people enjoy reading the same verse three times. Others read it three times a day till it is ingrained in their minds.
• Others choose to read it through each word in the stanza one at a time, emphasizing one word at a time. Using Romans 6:2, it would look like this.

Recite the verse(s) you're memorizing whenever you find yourself in a battle with a thought you know is bad, for as long as it takes to regain control of your mental life. As soon as you feel fear, anxiety, or worry come into your mind, pray to the Lord. Then go to His Word and take captive every idea, replacing it with Scripture. You'll be astounded by the freedom you gain—which is your birthright as a King's child. You'll be astounded when you witness the Lord fight on your behalf.

Are You Prepared for Battle?

This article only scratches the surface of spiritual warfare. When battling spiritual difficulties, one of our Level 1 studies may be a wonderful resource to look to. Kay Arthur and BJ Lawson's Spiritual Warfare: Overcoming the Enemy is a six-week study that will help you obtain a complete understanding of the enemy's tactics and schemes. You will learn the truth about Satan, including the limits of his strength, in each course, which is designed to take less than 40 minutes per day. You'll also be able to defend yourself against his attacks and devise a plan for living a life of winning on a daily basis. Also, Is This Warfare, Lord? Kay Arthur's Teach Me to Stand is an amazing Level 2 resource.

What are the different types of spiritual warfare?

Spiritual warfare is the Christian concept of combating supernatural evil powers at work. It is founded on the biblical belief in evil spirits, often known as demons, who are thought to meddle in human affairs in a variety of ways. Although neo-charismatic churches emphasize spiritual warfare, other Christian denominations and groups have adopted behaviors based on spiritual warfare notions, with Christian demonology frequently playing a crucial role in these practices and beliefs.

Prayer is one of the most prevalent forms of “spiritual warfare” used by these Christians. Exorcism, the laying on of hands, fasting with prayer, praise and worship, and anointing with oil are examples of other practices.

Watch your posture

Maintain a straight line with your gaze forward, shoulders back, and head up. To engage your core muscles, pull your belly button in toward your spine. Take a moment to restore your body alignment if you feel yourself slumping forward.

Relax and release your shoulders and neck if you find you're retaining tension in them. Maintaining good posture will help you maintain your speed while also protecting you from damage.

Swing your arms gently

Move your arms up and back with your arms bent at a 90-degree angle, so the opposite arm and leg advance at the same time. If you're stepping forward with your right foot, your left arm should be stretching forward as well.

Adding arm motion to your walking will help you walk quicker. That benefit can be obtained without the use of crazy swings or chicken wings. Exaggerated movements can slow you down and put you at risk of injuring yourself.

Concentrate on maintaining control throughout your range of motion. Your hand should not rise over your collarbone and should not cross your body's center.

Get a move on

Short strides and a quick tempo are recommended. Taking more steps per minute has been found in studies to improve insulin levels, body mass index, and waist circumference.

If you're starting an exercise program for the first time, talk to your doctor about a safe pace for you. Work your way up to longer distances and faster speeds.

Distance counts

Postal workers who walked more than 15,000 steps per day showed no evidence of metabolic syndrome, according to a small research. This is a set of health issues that frequently occurs before the beginning of diabetes.

How do you grow spiritually?

1. Begin by humbling yourself and praying.

It's all too easy to get caught up in the daily grind and forget how fortunate we are. You may maintain these positives in your mind by taking time in the morning (and again before you go to sleep at night).

Request that God continue to bless and protect you and your loved ones. This is also a good moment to ask Him for assistance in keeping your mind on His plan for your life. When we ask Him a question, we may find that we immediately see opportunities in front of us.

2. Study and Read the Bible

Consider your Bible to be a manual. The pages contain more information about how to live your life than you may realize. Proverbs and the letters to the churches (such as Ephesians and Philippians) instruct you on how to live a Christian life. Life lessons abound in the Bible.

The teachings of Jesus can be found throughout Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and then the teachings of the disciples may be found throughout the rest of the New Testament. The Old Testament tells you about Jesus' ancestors as well as stories of people who had strong faith. The more you grow in God's Word, the less external influences will cause you to stumble.

If you have the opportunity, try to delve thoroughly into a particular book, either in a group Bible study session or online, in order to gather some truth nuggets. This will also help you understand how this fact affects your life.

3. Find a group of believers who share your beliefs.

Depending on where you live, you might be able to find Christian groups that meet for a variety of reasons. Christian book clubs, Christian counseling groups, and faith-based exercise courses are examples of this.

There's a cliché that says you become like the five people you spend the most time with. Choose persons who have a deep relationship with God and can assist you in your spiritual development as a Christian.

4. Help Others

“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them,” Jesus stated in Matthew 7:12, “because this is the Law and the Prophets” (New King James Version).

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We've all heard the command, but how many of us actually do it? And what does it mean to serve others in order to get closer to God?

While on Earth, Jesus demonstrated how God wants us to live by caring for and serving others. Will people betray and injure us? Yes. They also harmed and betrayed Jesus. He continued to reach out to people and point them to God. We are feeding Jesus' chosen by feeding and clothing the destitute. “Feed my sheep,” Jesus stated to Peter after three times asking if he loved Him.

Please feed my sheep. It is our duty to look after others and to serve as the Lord's hands and feet. The key to a closer connection with God is obedience. “If you love me, observe my commands,” Jesus stated. (New International Version, John 14:15).

This does not, however, imply that if you are a victim of abuse, you must keep your arms in the fire. You can forgive others while maintaining a healthy distance from harmful connections. If you need assistance, talk to a Christian Counselor who can guide you toward a Christian lifestyle with healthy relationships.

5. Find out what spiritual gifts you have.

Each Christian has been given spiritual gifts, according to the Bible. Did you know that this can imply more than bodily healing and the ability to speak in tongues? Those are two of the most important biblical gifts.

You've also been given discernment, wisdom, faith, knowledge, and the fruits of the Spirit, which include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. Some of the gifts are related to your mission. You can improve these abilities by engaging in particular activities. You can focus on aligning your spiritual gifts with your purpose and serving others as a means of deepening your relationship with God if you are aware of the spiritual gifts that God has given you.

These are your innate abilities and characteristics. Do you enjoy assisting others, whether it's through home visits or meal preparation? Do you have a natural aptitude for teaching? Do you regularly share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others?

Other spiritual gifts that you may discover in yourself or others include:

• Are you the person that everyone looks to in a crisis? Are you more of a take-charge leader than a follower?
• Administration – Do you enjoy leading a church function when no one else is available? Are you prone to delegating duties and organizing groups and events?
• Does it concern you when someone reads Scripture out of context when you're teaching? Do you ever have the feeling that you could teach others about a particular subject?
• Evangelism – Do you often share the good news of Jesus Christ with others? Do you coach others on how to do the same?
• Shepherding – Can you educate or lead while caring for and serving others? Do you feel a sense of responsibility for the persons God has entrusted to your care?
• Prophecy – Do you believe the Holy Spirit gives you special insight into a person or a group of people? Are you confident in your ability to express Biblical truths?
• Do you prioritize serving the needs of others in your church and community when you serve? Do you enjoy working on projects that require you to be hands-on?
• Mercy– Do you sympathize with those who are in pain and looking for solace? Is it possible for you to provide a safe haven for a friend who is grieving or in pain?
• Exhortation — Do you offer practical, Bible-based advice to people? Can you see the bigger picture and propose answers to a problem?
• Giving – Do you go beyond tithes and offerings to find methods to financially help ministries? Do you spend your time and money anonymously in order to build God's kingdom rather than to “show off”?

Consider visiting with a Spiritual Development Counselor who can assist you in developing a strategy to further each of your gifts. You may focus on serving others while also achieving your purpose if you discover the top three gifts God has given you for ministry.

Everything will begin to seem aligned when you are experiencing a spiritual awakening of these gifts. Your relationship with God will improve as you continue to work on these. Find folks who share your passions and can serve as mentors. A person with the spiritual gift of teaching who also enjoys writing, for example, could collaborate with a Bible study author to create content for their church ministry.

Make a daily commitment to incorporate each of these into your spiritual development plan. Nothing matters more than your spiritual awakening and your relationship with God. We hope that as you grow in your spiritual life, you will be able to carry that confidence out into the world.

How do you pray against the enemy?

I command the storm of destruction to gather upon every satanic power that is against my health IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS! I decree and declare great casualty upon witches and wizards operating in my neighborhood, the judgment of God shall torment the powers of darkness working against me both at night and in the morning, the night shall carry terror and anger against all satanic powers that are standing against me, the night shall carry terror and anger against all satanic powers that

RIGHT NOW, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, my prayers have become earthquakes and storms in the devil's camp that is against my life; the Lord shall gather his armor against powers that are against my intellectual growth; all sickness in my life, known or unknown, receives heavenly storm; all conspiracy against any part of my body receives destruction now!

I order the deep wells inside me to be freed and broken forth in the name of JESUS!

What is God's power?

(1) God's power, the kind of power that resides within every born-again believer and energizes his or her life and ministry, is not something you can touch or bottle. It is the very essence of God's life force. It's the supernatural energy that flows out of God's being.

How can I be more powerful spiritually?

Seven Ways to Boost Your Spiritual Well-Being

• Examine your spiritual foundation. You are merely asking yourself questions about who you are and what you mean when you explore your spiritual essence.