In our struggle with fear and anxiety, we must realize that it’s a spiritual battle. Yes, we walk in the flesh and live our lives in this world, but the battle, the conflict, the struggle happens in the spiritual world. And, to fight this battle, you cannot rely on worldly weapons. We need to think spiritual and use the spiritual weapons God has given us.
What are our spiritual weapons?
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:13-17).
These are the weapons of our warfare:
- The belt of truth (to conquer the enemies lies)
- The breastplate of righteousness (for you are righteous in Christ)
- The shoes of peace (to walk in peace)
- The shield of faith (to extinguish the fiery darts of the enemy’s lies)
- The helmet of salvation (for in Christ, you are bound for heaven)
- The sword of the Spirit, the word of God (hearing God’s voice)
These are spiritual weapons. They are how we wage war against the enemy. We battle with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and the word of God. So, how do we fight with these spiritual weapons?
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
These weapons are “divinely powerful” to tear down the enemy’s strongholds and fortresses that cause fear and anxiety. Specifically, we can use our spiritual weapons to “destroy speculations” and “every lofty thing” that comes against God’s truth.
First, we must destroy “speculations”. These are the arguments that the enemy puts into our minds to confuse us. He wants us to reason with him, argue with him, but we cannot give any place to the enemy, even to argue a thought. Remember, he’s the father of lies and everything the enemy speaks to us are lies. So, don’t even argue or speculate with him. He may try to put thoughts into your mind like, I better not leave my house. It could be dangerous. And we respond, But, I been outside before and I was fine. The enemy responds again, But things are different now. The world is not safe. Back and forth, this war of thoughts is waged and lies are used to confuse and create fear in us. Don’t even go there.
Secondly, we must destroy “loft things”. These are those thoughts that try to torment us. I wonder if this is cancer. Cancer killed my uncle, and now it’s coming for me. Or, how about this one: I must be going crazy. This is what crazy must feel like. I’ll probably end up in an insane asylum. These are lofty thoughts that come against the knowledge of God, that come against truth.
We must use our spiritual weapons to battle these thoughts. We cannot give place to the enemy. We must resist the devil, and he will flee from us (James 4:7). The enemy’s goal is to get your focus off God, and onto yourself and this world. If he can divide your thoughts like that, then fear, anxiety and panic will follow. We must focus our thoughts on God and use our spiritual weapons to resist the enemy. This is God’s promise when we focus our mind upon him:
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3.
God promises you “perfect peace” when you fix your thoughts upon him and resist the devil.
Prayer: Father, teach me how to use these spiritual weapons to resist the enemy, and help me to fix my thoughts upon you so that I may experience perfect peace.
