Category: Spiritual Warfare

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Time for a Check-up!

I can’t believe it! The end of the first quarter of the school year here in Berkeley County, South Carolina is fast approaching. I am in the process of entering grades in my gradebook, because report cards will soon be due. The grades represent what the students were able to achieve or learn this quarter and give some indication to areas where they may need extra help or support.

While I am in this mode of thought, I can’t help but think about my spiritual report card, particularly my report in regards to my prayer life, and consequently my warfare. As I meditate on this, two passages of scriptures come to mind.

The first was recorded by the writer of Hebrews where he makes mention of a “report” as well. He states, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report….  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, ….” (Hebrews 11: 1-2, 39)

The second was written by Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church. It was not specifically speaking about a “report” but was encouraging the believers to do some self-examination or self-assessment. This is what he said, according to 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 in the Message translation: “Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it.”

The latter passage was referring to assessing oneself to determine whether or not they are in the faith. Tonight, I am taking heed to this advice and applying it to my prayer life. I am encouraged to take some time out for personal assessment, that is, self-reflection, and self-evaluation. The objective is to determine my areas of strengths and weaknesses, so that I can wage a good warfare (1 Timothy 1:18).

Would you join me as I pull out my ezerWatchers Checklist as my measuring tool and invite the Holy Spirit to be my Evaluator who will reveal and lead me into truth? Consider these indicators/descriptors with me.

Which number best describes your skill level for each statement?
1-Never  2-Rarely  3–Seldom  4-Often 5-Always

  1. I pray according to the will of God.
    – I research God’s word as it pertains to the situation. ________
    – I gather information about the issue/situation before praying.  _________
    – I accept the truth about the information gathered. ________
    – I seek God’s will regarding the situation. ________
  2. I am aware of when I may be contrary or opposed to the will of God.
    – I am honest about my feelings regarding the issue/situation.  ________
    – I war against my contrary will. _______
    – There are times when I war against my intellect. _______
    – I am aware of the distractions in my internal and external environment.  _________
    – I research God’s word as it pertains to distractions in my internal and external environment. ________
  3. I engage in prayer in different dimensions.
    – I pray prayers of confession as it pertains to my perceptions. ________
    – I pray prayers of submission as it pertains to my emotions. ________
    – I use different forms/types of prayer. _______
    – I have a strategy for overcoming these distractions in my internal and external environment. ________
  4. My prayers are led by the Holy Spirit.
    – My spiritual sight is corrected through the lens of my prayer. _________
    – My prayers are guided by my spiritual sight and not my perceptions. ________
    – My prayers are guided by my spiritual sight and not my emotions. ________
    – My prayers are led by the Holy Spirit, proactive – not just reactive. _______
    – I use a weapon in which I am skilled during prayer. ________
  5. Although I pray any and everywhere and at any time, I have routines associated with my communication with God.
    – I have a set place in my home where I meet with God. ________
    – I know the primary channel of communication through which God communes with me. _________
    – I have set times in my daily schedule when I meet with God. _______

So what did your results reveal?
In which of the 5 categories did you see more strengths? In which did you see more weaknesses?
Revisit 2 Corinthians 13: 5-6 (MSG) – “Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, …. If you fail the test, do something about it.”

I borrow this excerpt from The Art of War by Sun-Tzu: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself, but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. Knowing the enemy enables you to take the offensive, knowing yourself enables you to stand on the defensive.”

Getting regular check-ups through self-reflection and self-evaluation positions us for victory in the war.

DIG DEEPER –  For more information on:

1. Praying according to the will of God, check out
– Lord, Please Guard My Focus (1);
– Strategy for Warfare (2)

2. Being aware of when I may be contrary or opposed to the will of God, check out
– Lord, Please Guard My Focus (2);
– It Might Just Be an Illusion;
– The Woman & The Serpent (2);
– Change of Focus = Change of Perspective

3. Engaging in prayer in different dimensions, check out
– Warfare Against Fear;
– Warfare for My Children;
– Warfare: Obedience Conquers Fear;
– Be Rid of The “Thorns”

4. Being Led by the Spirit in Prayer, check out –
A Cry for Discernment;

5. Routines associated with my communication with God, check out –
– Tactical Position: Listen Up!

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Tactical Disposition: LISTEN UP!

As some of you know, I am a special education teacher. I teach students with varying exceptionalities. One such exceptionality is ADHD. Students with ADHD have a difficult time staying focused. Consequently, they struggle with LISTENING UP! Unfortunately for them, they miss a lot of the instruction that is given in their general education classes, not because they were not present but, because they could not focus enough to listen. Thus their achievement at the end of the semester does not accurately reflect their potential.

As I think of my students, I wonder about myself. How many battles have I lost? How many blessings have I forfeited? How many opportunities have I missed? How are my life ‘s achievements much less than my God-given potential? All because I am having difficulty focusing on God’s voice; all because I fail to LISTEN UP!

Life can be really noisy and distracting. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines noisy as, “accompanied by or introducing random fluctuations that obscure the real signal or data.” Noisy! Noisy! Noisy! So many noises; so many loud, sometimes confused and senseless sounds, both on the inside and on the outside. So much noise that we can’t hear the voice of God. But thanks be to God, He has made provision for us to hear, to move past those signals intended to obscure his voice and enter a space where we can hear him clearly.

Jesus modeled this for us: escaping the noise and finding that space. Mark 1:35 states, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” The time of prayer and the place of prayer are important for how well we are able to hear. Jesus chose a time when the hustle and bustle of life was at a minimum. He also chose a place where he could be alone and undisturbed; a place where noise-infiltration will be reduced.

There is something about the time of prayer. The prophet Isaiah also spoke of this time of prayer, in the morning. He was referring to the Messiah in this passage, but it is also instructive for us. He says, “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned“ – Isaiah 50:4. The NIV says it this way, “He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.”

In the morning, I awake with a blessing, an anointing, with favor on my ears to hear God clearly; to hear His instructions so that I can be guided for the day. Notice what Isaiah was saying. When I hear as a student, as one being taught, then I am able to know what to say, how to respond in season, that is, what is the appropriate word or action for the occasion. When I hear as a student then God is able to fulfill this promise in my life – “ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” – Psalms 32:8.

When we position ourselves to LISTEN UP, by choosing our time and place of prayer, we position ourselves to receive instructions for battle, for blessings, and to discern opportunities. If we were to read further in Mark 1, after Jesus came out of that early morning prayer, He was empowered to preach and do miracles. Luke 6:12-13 provides us with another example of Jesus being selective about his time and place of prayer. “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles….” We see that within that space he was able to hear clearly and receive instructions about who should be on his leadership team.

Position yourself to hear God’s voice; to be instructed!

Be selective about your time and place of prayer!

Make a choice to stop incurring avoidable losses. Make a choice to not forfeit any blessings. Make a choice to put an end to missed opportunities!

LISTEN UP!

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.
Oh, what peace we often forfeit; oh what needless pains we bear.
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

Don’t just carry them to Him in prayer. Create the environment (that time and place of prayer) that will allow you access to hearing His voice so that you can leave with instructions for the manifestation of your victory.

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly – Psalms 5:3 – LISTEN UP!

DIG DEEPER: Bible Study – Did you hear that?

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God’s Choice: Custom-made Battles

“Victory in warfare is a function of superiority of strategy.” – Pastor Sam Adeyemi

Exodus 13:17 – 14:31

God chooses our battles. He chooses when, where, and how we fight. Because the choice is His, if we follow His leading and guidance, we are assured to win.

Jeremiah 10:23 states, “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” The wise man Solomon further explains that, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps” – Proverbs 16:9.

God, in choosing our battles, considers our frame. He will not allow you to be tempted above that ye are able…. 1 Corinthians 10:13. Our battles are proportional to our strength.

God is not only able but He will. He will use the things in our environment that only He has control of (like the strong east wind) to make a way when none is visible. Solomon says that this ability of God is not just confined to nature, but even the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will (Proverbs 21:1).

The God that divided the waters and made a road in the sea can surely make a way of escape, a way of forward mobility for you. The way that God makes for you is yours. Your battles are custom-made for you, designed just for you. They were made to individual specifications. No one else can fit like you can. When they try to walk where you have walked in battle, they will experience defeat and destruction.

The sea represented the roadblock/obstacle/hindrance to their deliverance. But the sea also became their way of escape. What was their way of escape was the tool of destruction for their pursuers, their enemies. The way that God makes for you is for you. For others, it may be a tool of destruction, but for you a means of deliverance. WALK INTO THE MIDST OF THE SEA!

Your victory is assured this day. All that is required of you is great trust in God and expeditious movement.  Will you trust that God has the superior strategy for your life today?

MOVEMENT + TRUST = VICTORY

DIG DEEPER:

  1. Devotional – All for His Glory!
  2. Bible Study – Superior Strategy
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Something Worth Fighting For

“I live in a patriarchal society. I should leave the fighting, conquering, and building to the men. Nevertheless, I can’t ignore the legacy that pumps within my veins. While I was in the loins of my ancestor Joseph, I received an anointing as a ruler and preserver of nations. Additionally, while I was in the loins of his son Ephraim, I heard the prophetic utterance of greatness to found many nations. My father, brothers, cousins, and uncles are not the only ones to whom this blessing of favor belongs. I am Sherah, a near kinswoman, and I will seize that which was promised to us by God.”
– Sheerah, ~1400BC

The first nine chapters of the book of 1 Chronicles is a compilation of lists of genealogies or historical records of the family lines of the Israelites. Occasionally, the chronicler interrupts the lists of family names to elaborate on an individual in a family line. One such interruption occurs in 1 Chronicles 7:20-24. The author zones in on a tragedy that transpires in the family of Ephraim, during the pre-exodus time period. Then he fast forwards generations later, to the time period of Joshua’s conquest of Canaan and zooms in on a daughter (descendant) of Ephraim, Sherah, also known as Sheerah.

Sherah would have grown up hearing stories about her (many times over great grandfather) ancestor Joseph and also of her many times over grand uncles, Ezer and Elead. On one hand was a story of triumph over impossible odds and, on the other hand, a story of defeat that led to tremendous despair, depression and discouragement.

Which story should she allow to inform her future, to shed light on the path before her? Should she choose to sit in the sidelines and let life happen or should she grab hold of her legacy; that which God had promised her family? Were God’s promises worth fighting for?

I read the story of Sherah in 1 Chronicles 7:20-25 and imagined that the self-talk above might have been the thoughts running through her mind as she watched her kinsman, Joshua son of Nun lead the conquest of Canaan. I imagined that this reflection on who she was motivated her, a woman in a patriarchal society, to fight for her legacy. The story she wrote with her fight was recorded in verse 24 –

“And his daughter was Sherah, who built Bethhoron the nether, and the upper, and Uzzensherah.”

This was unheard of in these times; a woman being the foundress and builder of not one city/town but three, one of which was named after her. For generations after her death, one of these towns, Beth-Horon would be strategic in many battles fought in and by Israel. I am sure if I could sit with Sherah today, she would tell me, that all of that, though difficult, was something worth fighting for!

Do you have something worth fighting for?

DIG DEEPER:
1. Devotional – Hold on to Your Promise!
2. Bible Study – Sherah: Daughter of Ephraim

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TACTICAL DISPOSITION: Being Still

In my previous blog posts, I have been emphasizing the need for strategy as we engage in warfare in the kingdom. When I referred to strategy, I defined it as a plan of action to achieve an overall goal. So, for example, if our goal is the salvation of our spouse or children, our strategy will describe the plan of action that we are putting in place to achieve this. We would ask questions like: What approach will I take? Or What is the general direction I intend to take to achieve this goal?

However, it is not enough to have a strategy or overall plan for our warfare. After we have identified our strategy for warfare, we must then pinpoint the tactics needed to carry out that plan. Tactics are those specific actions that we employ to implement the strategy or plan.

It is important to note that this word, actions, may be misleading in that it implies (1) the process of doing something or (2) an active response or resistance. Scripture reveals a tactical position of seeming inaction or passivity (without active response or resistance). I call it the Tactical Disposition of Being Still.

As women, we often find it hard to “Be Still”. We wear so many hats that, without thinking, we often find our hands dipping in many things simultaneously. Consequently, there are times when our victory lies not in actively doing something or “waging warfare”. There are times when the tactical position for victory is just “being still”.

But what does it mean to be still? Psalms 46:10 as stated in the Amplified Bible says, “Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God”. Being still is leaving off or abandoning our own attempts and allowing God to be God in a situation; trusting that, without our help, He will be exalted in the situation. He will win and so will we.

Being Still is about ceasing from our labors, refraining from making inputs, relaxing our hold, and letting go so that God can show His might and His deliverance in the battle. When we are directed by the Holy Spirit to employ this tactic, we are afforded an opportunity to see God as the King of glory, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

I must confess that, for me, this has been one of the most difficult tactical dispositions in my warfare: being still. But thanks be to God, through His precious Holy Spirit, I am learning that quietness and confidence can be my strength (Isaiah 30:15). I am learning that as a wife and mother, I have been given a grace of influence that works best in an environment of stillness. I can choose to build my home with this grace, resting confidently in the Lord, or tear down what I am seeking to build by charging loudly and aggressively ahead.

I invite you to come with me as we discover The Power of Quiet Influence (Devotional) and how to be A Wise Builder (Bible Study).

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Do You Have a Strategy for Your Warfare?

To Fight or Not to Fight? That is the question.

Like Goliath, for some of you, the adversary has been challenging you in an area of your life for some time now. For others there is an issue or problem confronting you that you find difficult to overcome or solve. Still for others there is that goal that you want to achieve, but it presents a huge challenge.

In all of these cases, warfare is required. But what do you do? You have two options: To Fight or Not to Fight. Whatever your choice, you will need to decide on a strategy, choose a tactical position for your warfare.

Recently, I have been reading the book, The Art of War by Sun-Tzu, and it confirms so much that I have learned from the word of God as it relates to waging a good warfare. As I read it, I constantly hear the questions ringing in my spirit – Do you have a strategy for your warfare? What is your strategy for your warfare?

Read and ponder on some of what I have been reading from this book:

EXCERPT FROM The Art of War by Sun-Tzu

He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. If he can fight, he advances and takes the offensive; if he cannot fight, he retreats and remains on the defensive. He will invariably conquer who knows whether it is right to take the offensive or defensive.

Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself, but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. Knowing the enemy enables you to take the offensive, knowing yourself enables you to stand on the defensive.

On the one hand we have ability to protect ourselves; on the other, a victory that is complete.

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands. Security against defeat implies defensive tactics. The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. The ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive.

It is imperative to have a strategy for your warfare. Your choice of strategy will be determined by your knowledge of yourself and your adversary. Until you are able to come to grips with both yourself and the adversary, your strategy for warfare will not result in victory.

This week’s Bible Study and Devotional focus will be on three women (Rebekah, Rachel, and Hannah) who faced a similar adversary but made 3 different decisions on whether To FIGHT or Not To FIGHT. Join me as we use their testimonies to learn how to wage a good warfare against the challenges before us.

DIG DEEPER:

  1. Devotional – To Fight or Not To Fight?
  2. Bible Study – Watch Your Warfare!

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Symptoms

This past weekend I went to get my nails done. I sat on the chair in front of the nail technician and held out my right hand to her. She took my hand, paused, looked at me and asked, “Is something wrong? Why are your hands shaking?” My reply was, “It’s my thyroid.”

You see, I suffer from a condition called hyperthyroidism, where my thyroid produces excessive amounts of the thyroid hormones, which results in the speeding up of some of my body’s processes. Tremors/shakiness is one of the symptoms that I experience as a result of this condition.

Year ago, at the onset of this condition, I was terrified by the symptoms. The heart palpitations, muscle weakness, nervousness, tremors, dizziness, fainting spells, and drastic weight loss were all so inexplicable to us. We spent lots of time, energy, emotions, and finances trying to figure out what was going on. It seemed as if I was on a pathway to death until we found a doctor who could provide us with answers. We now knew what the cause of the fight was and so could now draft a strategy to combat that adversary.

So as I witnessed my nail technician’s concern at the tremors, I was not alarmed or fearful of what I was seeing. I knew that nothing was wrong with my hand. The tremors were simply an indication of what was going on in the “unseen realm of my body”. The tremors and the other symptoms are my indicators of how successful my body is at this point in the fight for wholeness and health. They inform the next steps that should be taken in my progress towards wellness.

Similarly, we must always be mindful of the truth that what we see in our environment every day are indicators and results of what is going on in the unseen realm. Hebrews 11:3 teaches that what we see (the visible) was actually created from what we cannot see (the invisible).

Our current symptoms, the physical or mental features of our lives, are indicative of where we are, at this point in the fight for eternal salvation. Instead of becoming alarmed or fearful, we must investigate the cause or root, then allow the symptoms to inform our strategy for warfare. That is why Paul admonishes: Although we live in the world, we don’t fight our battles with human methods. (2 Corinthians 10:3 – CEB)

Join me over the next few weeks as we explore how to formulate effective strategies for warfare.

DIG DEEPER:

  1. Devotional – Be Sober, Be Vigilant!
  2. Bible Study – Our Adversary: Satan
  3. Prayer Room – A Cry for Discernment
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It Just Might Be An Illusion!

What animals do you see?

Have you ever been discussing an issue or topic with someone and was baffled as to why it was so hard for them to see the obvious? The discussion begins to get out of hand. It deteriorates into a disagreement and then to a full-blown heated argument.

At the beginning of the dialogue, you both started out with the same goal; to exchange ideas so as to reach a decision, but instead you leave the conversation, not focused on the issue at hand, rather on the hurt and offense that you feel. Nothing was achieved; you did not reach a consensus because of your difference in opinion.

WHAT HAPPENED? You saw a horse, while he saw a frog. She saw a rabbit, but you saw a duck. You saw 3 bricks; he saw 4. You were both perceiving the same reality differently because of where your eyes [your mind’s eyes] were focused.

The pictures of the animals above are optical illusions. An Optical Illusion is an experience of seeming to see something that does not exist or that is other than it appears.

That situation you’re facing right now, the one for which you’ve been asking God for an answer or direction, what are you seeing? Can you trust your sight? May I submit that what you’re seeing might just be an illusion? Or it might just be partial sight?

Our perceptions and perspectives aren’t truth. We live by faith [in God’s word] and not by our sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). His thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). If we are going to become the W.O.M.E.N. we were created to be, then we have got to learn how to guard our sight.

DIG DEEPER:
1. The Bible Study – Change of Focus = Change of Perspective
2. Prayer Room – Lord Guard My Focus (1); Lord Guard My Focus (2)