The War for Our Souls: Week 1

The Lord is Our Strength

Have you ever considered the “war” going on in your heart and mind at this very moment? This noise seems to be on loudspeakers as we add in the chaos of the world with politics in the U.S. and abroad; the striving for our bodies to physically look like him or her; battling other people to prove our point or status. Even our past taunts us.

Still as we long to fill the void or find the answer to “success” or “happiness”, we stray further and further.

We become so distracted by the enemy that we forget who we are fighting to begin with and as a result turn on each other.

Although, enough is enough. It is time we stop giving in to the enemy’s schemes and fighting the wrong fight.

Over the next six weeks, we are going to pull apart this war and by studying Ephesians 6, we will discover how to really fight.

But before we hop into all the specifics and logistics, we must first find our place.
Ephesians 6 verse 10 says “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

This verse seems simple, right? Yet, be sure to notice the fifth word, “Lord” because He is our foundation.

For no matter how much weight we can bench press, nor the number of Bible verses memorized, we cannot fight on our own.

We must submit to the Lord and His ways, first and foremost.

2nd Corinthians Chapter 1 illustrates this step of submission, starting in verse 8.
“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.”

The disciples believed they were going to die. Their circumstances were that bad. Still, they put their focus on God by talking about what He taught them through the fire and the beauty in relying on Him for everything moving forward.

I also love how this concept is worded in 2nd Corinthians 4 verse 7: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

In addition, Proverbs 3:5 and 6 are always go-to’s when it comes to depending on Him. “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”

Regardless of which verse we claim as our favorite, it is imperative that we realize the source of any and all strength comes from our creator, God.

So as we move forward, may you consider this war going on in your life personally. – Who or what are you fighting? – What areas have you tried to take the reins?
– Where do you need to step back and submit to the Lord instead of depending on your strength?

No matter what “war” you may be fighting, you can raise your white flag in surrender today.

It may seem scary, especially at first, but I promise it is worth it. For with the Lord, it is never too late to follow Him and His way.

Please know I am also praying for you today.