12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. 13Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
(Ephesians 6:12-13 Amplified Bible)
We live in a world that we can see and touch, but our faith in a God that we can't directly see or touch is based on what we can see with our spirit. It is our spirit which is eternal, and our spirit which forms the core of life (the difference between animate flesh and inanimate). When our spirit leaves our bodies, we die.
And so, while we live in a world that is full of material goods, interactions, chores and circumstances, our actual battle is not with those things. Our focus should rather be on the spiritual forces that are behind the circumstances we encounter.
For example, while we might endure tough situations with people we meet in the real, we can't focus on the person we had a hard time with. Instead, we need to look with our spiritual eyes and see that Satan is real and he is truly working against us. The more visible we are in God's service, the more energies Satan will direct against us (after all, if we're inactive as Christians, why would he task any forces against us?).
Interestingly, when looking at verse 13, we aren't called to recklessly charge against Satan, but rather, we are instead called to gird ourselves in God's armor, resist, and stand firm. The vision that I see is one of a Roman phalanx - a group moving forward together and defending one another. Clearly, this is in line with the continual calls for Christians to meet and pray together as a Church rather than to serve as lone soldiers.
Taking all this into consideration, I find that I get too wrapped up in stuff that happens to me. I blame this person or that circumstance because I feel wronged in some way, shape or form. But the Lord is teaching me here that the people (flesh and blood) involved aren't the driver of what happens. The real enemy is in the spiritual realm and must be approached from a spiritual angle. As I disconnect my emotions from individual people, I realize that I can forgive and love even my enemies (although it's hardly an easy process).
Lord Jesus, I know that I get so worked up and caught up in individual events. However, I realize through Your word that I need to release my emotional connection to these things and instead fall on my knees in prayer to seek your help with these spiritual attacks. Our family is making changes to pray together and seek You as a team to be united and strong against Satan. Please help us to continue to do this and see clearly with our spiritual eyes the forces that are arrayed against us. Grant us wisdom to know how to pray, and when we don't know what to say, pray for us through our groans. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.
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