Know Your Real Enemy

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:11-12 (NKJV)

Some days it seems like the whole world is against us. It’s not. Most of the world doesn’t know or care much about one individual. Satan does. He knows that it’s individuals who are willing to stand up and be counted, who are willing to follow God’s path, who are warriors for God, that are the mightiest people in the world.

The world might not know your name, but if you’re a Christian attempting to walk the path God has set out, you’d better believe that Satan knows your name. More than that, he’s got your number and his minions are making a habit out of doing what they can to knock you off that path.

Sure, demons use other people against us. Most of the time those other people are unwitting tools in his machinations. A cutting word here, a disparaging comment there, can go a long way to eroding someone’s happiness and confidence.

It can escalate from there until others are being actively used to manipulate, harass, and stop you from fulfilling your God-given purpose. Friends, family, co-workers might hurt you and interfere with your work. There may be some people who dislike you or downright hate you.

Our fight is not with those people.

Our fight is with the forces of darkness. So, what do you do about everyone else? What do you do about those people who intentionally or unintentionally hurt you?

Forgive them.

Most of the time, they know not what they do. And those who do know what they’re doing? They need forgiving even more than the others. But, at the end of the day, you’re not forgiving them for their sakes. You’re doing it for yours. You can’t afford all that time and energy spent on anger, hate, resentment, grief, and hurt. You’ve got a real battle to fight against an enemy who is much more vicious.

Forgive the people that hurt you and move on. Forgiving them doesn’t mean allowing them to keep hurting you. Sometimes you have to move on and let relationships go. Knowing when to do so is something you and God need to discuss. However, the toxic poison of non-forgiveness eats away at you on the inside. It makes you weak and injured. You can’t face your real battlefield that way.

So, forgive, heal, and polish up your armor, because you’ve got some supernatural fighting to do!

#angels #dailyinspiration