S -Strategic M -Maneuvers A -Attacking R -Real T -Threats
Who do you battle? It may not be who you think! Here are some tips on doing battle with the enemy. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” (John 10:10)
- STAY ACTIVE — You need to stay engaged. You have to do something! You can’t just sit around and wait for everything to fall apart before getting into the game.
- GO ON THE OFFENSIVE — Stop running away from the battle. Don’t let the enemy chase you, pursue him. Start fighting for and go after what is important.
- BE AGGRESSIVE — Being aggressive requires effort and energy and “contact”. It takes something from us and we feel it’s impact.
- REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE FIGHTING — This battle isn’t about a particular person, this is about fighting the enemy. If you are fighting a spiritual battle, you will need spiritual armor. Don’t focus on your spouse, or kids, or boss, or whoever it is that is causing you trouble. Remember who you are fighting — an enemy that wants to destroy you, your family, your ministry calling, God’s plans and purposes for your life. (Make sure you are getting angry at the right “enemy”.)
- BREAK DOWN “STRONG-HOLDS” — Whenever something doesn’t let go easily, it has a strong hold on you. Your prayers can feel “choked”. You have difficulty praying or getting the right words out of your mouth. You may feel internal or external pressure resisting you and pushing you backwards. This unseen force is the enemy trying to stop you from doing the right thing. Don’t give up now, you are on the right track! Keep pushing forward.
- RECOGNIZE THIS IS A BATTLE — This battle will not be won unless you stay engaged. That means you cannot run away, or quit, or give up if you expect victory in your life. Battles are messy and unpredictable. Expect and prepare for the unexpected.
- FACE THE TRUTH — Do not deny it, or minimize it, or distract yourself with other things in order to avoid it. You need to face it, attack it, head on with eyes wide open being fully awake and alert to the enemy’s lies.
- PREPARE FOR IMPACT — This battle will affect you. You will feel the impact and resulting consequences of staying engaged. You will feel pain upon contact with the enemy. Be prepared for whatever he throws at you. Brace yourself for continuing conflict.
- FIND YOUR VOICE — You may feel overpowered and your prayers ineffective or even stifled. You may have trouble expressing your words or even know what to pray. Rely on the Holy Spirit to pray for you when you don’t know what to say. But don’t stop, keep praying!
- DO YOUR PART — You play a significant role in your deliverance. God expects you to participate and do your part. God gives us a “battle plan” and “spiritual weapons and armor” to defend and protect ourselves with, but He requires our involvement. If we do what we can do, God will do what we cannot do.
- OBEY DESPITE HOW YOU FEEL — You may feel overwhelmed or tired or overcome with emotion, but God will honor your obedience in the midst of your struggle. Your relationship with God is more than just feelings. God loves you all the time, not just when you feel like it or think you deserve it.
- EXPECT RESISTANCE — The enemy may leave you alone for awhile, but he always comes back. Don’t leave open the back door to your heart through unconfessed sin, not forgiving, or judging others. Expect him to resist you when you are making progress, or when God is challenging you to step out or to obey Him. The enemy will do anything he can to stop God’s plan for your life, even if he has to convince you that God has no plan. If you expect the enemy’s attacks, you can prepare for them and recognize them when they are occurring.
- DON’T GIVE UP — Don’t back down, turn away, or give up. If you do no give in or give up, you cannot lose. You’ve got to believe that you are who God says you are, and you have what God says you possess, and you can do what God says you can accomplish. You have to TRUST God that when He says the battle is already won, you LIVE and ACT like you believe it.
Let the words said in 2 Timothy 4:7 be found true of me,
- I have FOUGHT the good fight … I gave it everything I had.
- I have FINISHED the race … I did not give up!
- I have kept the FAITH … I chose to trust and obey God, despite how I was feeling.
