Know Your Enemy

**Many thanks go out to our veterans on this Veterans Day for all they have sacrificed to serve our country and protect our freedom. Remember to pray for those who are still serving, the families that they leave behind, and for those who are recovering from physical injuries or emotional trauma as a result of their service.**

 I have never served in the military, never fought in a war, never risked my life for my country. To be honest, I probably couldn't make it through basic training. I don't have what it takes...and I am so thankful for the military heroes that do have what it takes.

I don't know anything about combat or modern warfare strategy.I have learned and studied, and continue to study, however, about spiritual warfare. Military geniuses know strategy and they know their enemy. Did you know that you have an enemy? John 10:10 tells you that your enemy, the devil, came to kill, steal, and destroy. The devil is your enemy...not other people.

Though it may seem that most of your problems come from other people, the Bible says "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against...the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil." (Eph 6:12). It's really not other people that you are struggling against...its the deceiver operating through them (or possibly through you!) to destroy your life.So, stop fighting  the person that hurt you emotionally or physically, stole from you, lied to you, lied about you, cheated you, cheated on you or whatever. Focus your battle on defeating your true enemy , the devil, with the weapons that God has given you. That's who I really, really hate!

Military strategists know weapons and they use all of the weapons available to them to achieve the goal of defeating their enemy. The Bible says that though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does (2 Cor. 10:3) The Bible says that the weapons of our spiritual warfare are not carnal, or of this world, but they are mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds.

What weapons do we have in our arsenal? Prayer, praise, and the Word of God! We have power and authority in the name of Jesus and through the blood of Jesus. The Bible says we overcome (or win the battle) through the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. Your words have power and the Word of God has even more power. The armor of God is made up of salvation, peace, righteousness, faith, truth, and the Word of God. The word of God is the only offensive weapon that we use. That rest of the armor of God is made up of defensive weapons.  Learn to fight by saying what the Bible says ! Don't talk about the person or situation that hurt you..learn to say what the Word says about you and your situation. 

Before you go to battle, you have to be prepared! Make sure that you have confessed any sin in your own life before you start trying to defeat your enemy. Next, you must plan your attack. Begin to look up scriptures related to your issue or problem. Then, go on the offensive and say what the Word says about your situation! 

(I use the Complete Promise Bible for Women and I also like "Daily Declarations for Spiritual Warfare" or "Prayers that Rout Demons and Break Curses", both by John Eckhardt. You should be able to find many resources online or in a Christian bookstore, such as a Bible Concordance to help you find the actual Bible verses that you need related to a particular situation).

Finally, remember that the Lord your God is actually fighting your battles for you. Isaiah 49:25 says that God will contend with those that contend with you! Isaiah 54:17  says that no weapon formed against you will prosper and any tongue that rises up against you in judgement, you will condemn. So, other than using the Word of God, prayer, and praise...STOP YOUR FIGHTING. Let God handle it!

I decree and declare over you:
"The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven." (Deut 28:7)