What Is Spiritual Warfare? Standing Firm in Christ

Girls, pull up a chair and grab your coffee. We need to talk about something that touches our thoughts, homes, relationships, and ministry: spiritual warfare.

Recently, my dear friend Leighann McCoy joined me on Coffee Chats to discuss this very subject. As we talked, I kept coming back to this question: Do we really understand who we are in Christ?

We know how to show up for church. We know how to serve, organize, teach, and take care of everyone else. But when discouragement settles in, or fear interrupts our sleep, do we remember where our strength comes from?

The Battle Is Real

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our struggle reaches beyond flesh and blood. There is a spiritual enemy who opposes God’s work and seeks to undermine our faith.

But listen closely: God and Satan are not equally powerful opponents fighting over who will win. God is the Creator. Satan is a created being. Our Lord’s authority is supreme, and Christ’s victory is secure.

We need to settle that truth in our hearts.

The enemy would love for us to question God’s character. He wants us to look at painful circumstances and wonder, Does God really love me? Can I trust Him? Has He forgotten my family?

When we begin believing those lies, our attention shifts away from the One who sustains us.

That is why knowing God personally matters so much. We need more than information about Him. We need daily fellowship with Him.

Where Are You Finding Your Strength?

Ephesians 6:10 directs us to find our strength in the Lord and His mighty power.

Oh, how often we try to get through the day on our own! We make another list, push through another responsibility, and tell ourselves we will spend time with the Lord when things calm down.

Then we wonder why we are weary.

Sweet friend, the Holy Spirit lives within you if you belong to Jesus. You can depend on Him today. Open your Bible. Ask Him to search your heart. Bring Him the thought you cannot shake and the situation you cannot fix.

Our confidence rests in His presence and power.

First John 4:4 reminds us that the One living in us is greater than the one in the world. Let that truth shape how you face this day.

Standing Firm When Life Hurts

During our conversation, Leighann shared about facing cancer and painful family struggles while writing about spiritual warfare.

Knowing the truth did not remove the suffering. She still had to walk through it.

Girls, following Jesus does not mean life will always be easy. We live in a broken world. Ministry can be exhausting. People disappoint us. Our families experience heartache. Sometimes we pray faithfully, and our circumstances remain unchanged.

Standing firm means continuing to trust God in those places.

We can grieve honestly, ask difficult questions, and seek support while holding tightly to Him. His faithfulness does not depend on how quickly our situation improves.

You may feel weak today. Bring that weakness to the Lord. He has not asked you to sustain yourself.

Girls, Armor Up

Read Ephesians 6:10–18 slowly today. Consider the armor God provides: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and His Word. Then notice the call to keep praying.

Where have you allowed a lie to shape your thinking? What concern have you carried without bringing it to Him? Is there someone you need to pray for instead of rehearsing your frustration with them?

Begin there.

Some days our battle is nothing more than a pesky fly to swat, distracting us; other times, it’s hand-to-hand combat. When you realize this, you know you are in the middle of a war and need to be prepared for the enemy. As a reminder, a soldier would never go into battle without proper armor and weapons. If this is true for an earthly soldier, then the imagery in Ephesians speaks to you and me: we must be fully prepared with the right armor and weapons to fight a spiritual war against our greatest enemy.

You do not have to understand everything happening around you to take the next faithful step. Stay close to Jesus. Fill your mind with His truth. Our greatest weapon is our voice of praise. Praise the Lord in the strength of His might. Keep praying and put on the full armor of God. (Notice whose armor you are putting on in verse 11.) It is His armor, and we are His, and He will protect us as we look to Him.

The battle is real, and your Savior is faithful. Stand firm in Him.

Prayer: Keep me aware of the battle that is around me. Keep me mindful to be prepared each day. Cause my praise for my God to outweigh my fear of the enemy. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in this world. Keep my focus, O God, and help me stand firm against my greatest foe! In Jesus name, Amen.