A Subtle Attack

4/11/2021

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

Every morning brings with it a promise for change, but often this needs to come from within. Struggling though a bad day (and we all have them) is tough. I know for me, the more frustrated I become about things going awry, the worse everything seems to get. If I am having a clumsy day, and I start letting that frustrate me, the drops, spills, breaks, and stumbles increase. I start feeling badly about myself, and it just keeps cycling around and around. Of course, this is the evil one's way of getting me down and trying to steal my joy. Does he ever succeed in this endeavor? Sometimes, I will admit, he does. Only when I am mindful of the attack and I say, "Not today Satan, today is not your day and you have no control over my life; for I am a beloved child of the Most High. In Jesus name flee from here!" do I overcome. 

Not everything that happens is an attack, but the evil one is always lurking in the shadows, waiting for me to let my guard down just enough that he can strike even in small and unassuming ways. 1 Peter 5:8 - "Be sober minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour you." Not every battle begins as a frontal attack, sometimes it is a subtle sneak attack and one that we are not expecting. These kind are the most insidious. When the flaming arrows of the evil one are firing rapidly, I know what spiritual weapons I need, but when it comes on slowly I often try to fight alone. This is a BIG mistake! My spiritual armor should be firmly secure every minute of every day, so that no matter how the battle comes, I am ready. Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."