12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Lord, my battle is not against flesh and blood.
The struggle and battles of my life ...
they are not against people.
Lord you want me to know that I am called to fight not against people,
against others who do better,
against others who have more,
who out perform, out earn, out shine, out DO me.
Lord, you want me to know that the battle I am called to as your child is a battle for eternal stakes; a spiritual battle against spiritual forces.
Lord, the dark authorities, the powers, the spiritual forces of evil in this world, in the internet, in the media, in the soul of this culture, in this whole world system which seeks to reduce men and women into hollow beings bent in upon themselves.
Lord, help me not get diverted to any other battles of my own making.
Dear God, I confess that I often find myself fighting for myself, against others.
Instead of being a soldier of Jesus Christ, called to fight the battles of our Lord, I am soldier for (insert your name here), a soldier for my petty self, my puny name ... out to fight for the glorious cause of my small self.
How tragic, Lord, when there is a greater war being waged all around me for the souls of men and women, a spiritual war with eternity at stake.
I don't see my self appropriately, Lord.
Every time I waste my energy in anger and bitterness over my own ego wounds, Lord, please forgive me; help me see that you suffered much ghastlier wounds for the sins of man's prideful ego.
Every time I try to further myself, advance myself, protect myself ... Lord, open my eyes to the battlefield.
Help me never sit there nursing small wounds, clutching at minor cuts, when others are bravely advancing on the enemy with bigger wounds and deeper pain
Lord, please open my eyes. Open my eyes to see who my true enemies are. Open my eyes to see the dimensions, the forces which come to a focal point right here, upon my life, as I kneel in prayer.
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
What an amazing thing it is, Lord, that I can put on the full armor of God, and actually stand my ground against the evil forces of the air, that I can do everything you command, and stand.
That every time I go and proclaim the gospel,
Every time I do something kind,
Every time I build a friendship with someone who does not know you,
Every time I express your love, grace and forgiveness,
Every time I pray and praise you,
Every time I trust you, hold to the truth, and believe you are good and right and sovereign, ... that every time I do that, the "flaming arrows of the evil one" is extinguished.
Lord, I didn't know. I really do not walk around appreciating this: that I am constantly engaged in this kind of battle, and that I can do this kind of damage to the kingdom of darkness. I did not properly see myself, my position, there in the trenches, there out there in the front lines, with the ability, potential, the opportunity to bring victory to the kingdom of God.
Lord, help me to know that my struggle is not against flesh and blood ...
Help me to see myself as a rebel soldier in the spiritual battle.
Help me to behave myself appropriately.
Help me to renounce all the other skirmishes for my self, the small battles for my own ego. Help me to feel the eternal stakes which converge upon my life.
Help me to get excited at the incredible privilege to engage the powers of evil.
As it says in 2 Cor 4:18-20
"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."
Help me to run to the battle lines with this message of reconciliation. Let this be my one holy passion, Lord.
Romans 10:14-15
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"