Is Your Spirit Ready for the Battle?

Spirit – the nonphysical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character; the soul.

“We seek a harmony between body and spirit.”

Those qualities regarded as forming the definitive or typical elements in the character of a person, nation, or group, or in the thoughts and attitudes of a particular period:

“The university is a symbol of the nation's egalitarian spirit.”

Have you ever been in a place where, no matter how hard you pray, there is one thing after another coming at you? You’re praying, fasting, going to church, screaming out to Jesus—yet every time you turn around, here comes some trouble, some bad news.

You are minding your business, trying to be the best person you can be and bam! Out of nowhere comes that bill you didn’t plan for. Here comes that call that someone you love has passed away. Here comes that child acting all kinds of ways. Here comes that temptation you thought you had put away.

You can get to the point where you say, “God, what’s up? What else do You want from me?”

These trials can cause some people to give up or lose hope. They get tired of the battle because the battle feels like it will never be over.

I know that feeling. I have seen others struggle with that feeling.

This morning, I asked God to help me understand what in the world all of that is about.

God said: Ephesians 6:12 – For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

“Yes, I get that, Lord… but how do I equip my human self to fight that kind of attack?”

God asked, “How are you fighting it?”

“I’m praying and calling on Your name, Lord. I’m trusting and believing in You. What else can I do?”

Clark Kent doesn’t fight battles on his own. He has to reach back for the power given to him by Superman.

“What are You saying, Lord?”

God said, “There is a superpower inside of you. I have left it with you. I have empowered you with it. It is called the Holy Spirit. If you were activating the full force of the Holy Spirit, the attacks that you see as overwhelming wouldn’t even be noticeable.

You are trying to fight principalities, powers, and rulers of the dark side with a BB gun. You need an AK-47 kind of power to fight those attacks.”

Whew. In other words, we are still suckling on breast milk when we should be drinking Gatorade. We haven’t stepped up our fight game to meet this present darkness.

If our weapons aren’t working, we need to reconsider the type of weapons we’re using. God has given us everything we need to fight these battles, but some of us aren’t ramping up our spiritual armory to meet the battle.

We might still be operating in the flesh—quoting the right scriptures, going to church every Sunday, fasting like we’re doing something. Yet… have we really gone inside and surrendered our complete will to the Holy Spirit, who is able to do above all we could ever ask?

I had to stop and process this. It made me pause.

This spirit thing is deep. My spirit is the seat of my emotions, character, and soul.

So, I had to evaluate: What does my spirit look like in the moment of attack?

Not what it looked like in church on Sunday.

Not what it looks like when everyone is watching.

What does my spirit look like in that critical moment when I feel out of control?

In that moment when someone has pissed me all the way off.

In that moment when I don’t have one thin penny and the light bill is staring at me

In that moment when memories come back of how good it felt to be with someone I know is no good for me

In that moment when I’m scared and pain is racking through my body.

In that moment when I’m all alone at midnight and the enemy is whispering.

What does my spirit look like then?

I had to be honest: "God, when trouble comes, I’m not even thinking about the condition of my spirit. I’m just trying to get through the moment.”

“Ah, my daughter… you may need to examine that right there.”

The signs have revealed that we are surely in the last days. God needs soldiers on the battlefield—soldiers who are seasoned, armed, and ready to strike at any moment.

We are His soldiers.

The question God is asking is: What are the weapons of your warfare?

Yes, it’s hard.

Yes, it feels like one battle after another.

Yes, we may be tired.

Yes, it can be scary.

BUT—God says, “I know your beginning from your end. I have already won the battle. Why are you fighting like you don’t believe how the story ends?

Are you showing up like Clark Kent… or like Superman?”

Each and every day, each and every moment, we must activate the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us.

Jesus told us He would leave us a Comforter. Jesus told us that greater things will we do.

So why do we run to Jesus whining about every scraped knee, when the Holy Spirit—the power Jesus gave us—is right there living in us?

This morning God laid it on thick. I have to process and pray on this myself.

Instead of focusing on the attack, I should be asking if my spirit is ready for the battle?