Resources/Articles
Where Does the Battle Begin?
Whence come wars and whence come fightings among you?
Come they not hence, even of your pleasures
that war in your members?
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain:
ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.
James 4:1,2
It has always troubled me to know a person could wake up each day as in the days of Noah “and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). It helps me understand one important lesson about Satan. Each day he is ready, armed to fight for your mind and mine. He can start your day with busyness or frustration. He can throw thoughts of complain or immoral lusts in your mind. He can mix in discouragement and doubt, or he can change the menu with the choice of pride and wicked purposes.
Every Christian should be prepared for this. This should not be a surprise for us to know Satan will deceive, devise, and destroy. We should be ready for this just like a child knows when the bus is going to pick him up for school. Preparation for a battle with Satan needs preparation like knowing we have enough gas in the tank to make it to work in the morning. We know Satan is ready. Are we ready with all the equipment God provides? The armor is ready (Ephesians 6:15-18). We know the pieces of the armor have been battle-tested and ready for the fight. There is no doubt every piece functions properly. It is up to us to put it on each day. Our goodness can overcome evil (Romans 12:21). Patience can help us with any affliction (Romans 5:3-4). Love overwhelms any onset of hatred and anger (1 Peter 4:8). Mercy removes the pain of guilt and brings relationships alive (Matthew 6:14-15). Knowledge of the truth defeats every false way (Psalm 119:1-5). Faith fights off the fiercest of arrows, spears, and barbs from those who oppose godliness and holiness (Acts 5:29). Hope takes every step we take (Titus 2:12-13).
Once this battle is over at the end of the day, where will we stand or will we have stood? Will Satan have won or will Christ have obtained a victory? Will our hearts have cast down every imagination and high thing exalted against God, or will Satan have placed another medal around the neck of someone who thinks like he thinks (2 Corinthians 10:5)? Our exhortation for each day is clear: “But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit agains the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would” (Galatians 5:16-17). Place this battle plan in your mind, if you expect to succeed.
