Tag: spiritual warfare

Categories
Christian Living

The Sweet Smell of Victory

What does victory smell like? What does it look like? fingers held up in a "v" for victory sign

Here’s a pretty good description:
“Here was the heart of the secret that I was struggling to grasp–I had to step aside and ask Someone else to do the fighting for me. And every time I thought of my particular battle – usually many times a day – I had to step consciously out of the way again and give gratitude to Him for the battle He was waging on my behalf right then. Sometimes it took days, sometimes longer, for evil was rarely flimsy but the outcome was sure; sure because He was and is the Lord of life. And sure, because evil is at the last always a coward that slinks away when finally challenged and faced down.”

Evil is rarely flimsy. That is a great reminder that Satan has had plenty of time to know what best tempts me. He knows which of his lies will work best to keep me feeling defeated. But fortunately the outcome is sure – sin, death, and Satan have ultimately been defeated by Jesus. We just need to hold onto the truth of His victory. And that can look different for each person, because each of us are dealing with different struggles. Therefore…

“Eventually the results of the victory would be there for anyone to see, whether in a healthy body or a restored mind; or a boy or girl whose values – all awry – were back in place; or a ruptured relationship healed; or, perhaps, just in the miracle of finding joy in what had once been a hateful task.”

I love this idea – that victory is there for us, and though it may look different for each of us depending on our struggle at the time, the Master Reconciler desires for us to find healing. And though the healing of a body is helpful to us in so many ways, the more important healings are seeing wrong values transformed, finding a broken relationship mended, and the miraculous healing of seeing a once hateful task changed into something we learn to do with joy.

This is the victorious life that can only be found in Christ.

What miraculous victories have you experienced?

(Quotes from the book “Christy” by Catherine Marshall)

— brian rushing

Categories
Christian Living

Kevlar Body Armor

Did you put on your Kevlar this morning? Planning to pack a bullet-proof vest for vacation? Did you remind the kids to bundle up in body armor before sending them out to play? I don’t need armor for the playground or vacation. But military personnel need Kevlar vests because they are going to the battlefield where their lives are in danger.

ancient knight's armor representing the spiritual armor we needBut why does God tell me to put on armor in Ephesians? Why would I need a spiritual Kevlar vest if the Christian life is safe, secure, and comfortable? The reason is that the Christian life is not easy. In fact, God knows that I am headed into a battle, and so I better be prepared.

Too often I want to believe the Christian life is supposed to be a life of leisure, comfort, and security now that Jesus is on my side. I get into a playground mentality. And that is exactly what satan wants! He doesn’t want me to believe that I am in the midst of a battle or preparing for war. He wants me in a playground-mentality Christianity. God says put on combat boots (“shod your feet with the boots of the Gospel”), but satan says – just put on some cheap, foam flip-flops – they’ll be fine, that’s all you need. And too often, I slip on the flip-flops as if I’m going to the beach.

“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn’t exist.” If satan doesn’t exist, then I can be safe and comfortable playing on the see-saw with a friend. But if satan does exist, and if he really is trying to kill, steal, and destroy my happiness, my family, & my very life, then I need to put on the proper armor for the battle. As Christians, we are the only ones who know this to be the truth, and therefore we are the only warriors available. But instead of running to the battle, too often I find myself running to the swingset.

So today, instead of having a playground mentality of Christianity, I’m gonna put on my spiritual Kevlar by spending time in God’s Word and prayer! Be sure to grab yours before you go out the door today!

— brian rushing