Did you know that you have a spiritual enemy who seeks to lead you away from God? This might be a scary thought, but you have a God who rescues and protects you. This battle, although not visible, is real. Learn more about it with this 30 Day Spiritual Warfare Bible Reading Plan.
What is Spiritual Warfare?
Depending on your Bible knowledge and upbringing, the term “spiritual warfare”might be part of your regular vocabulary or a new concept to you.
Spiritual Warfare is the ongoing conflict that happens between good (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and evil (Satan, the enemy).
While this conflict is not visible, it goes on every single day of your life.
If you are a Christian, Satan does all in his power to pull you away from God. If you are not a Christian, Satan does what he can to make sure you don’t become one.
This battle continues to play out throughout all of history and will continue until the end of time as we know it. (Click here to read about about how Satan attacks you.)
While this can be a frightening thought, we know that Jesus has already won the ultimate victory! He defeated sin and death once and for all with his sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead.
Growing up in a Lutheran church, spiritual warfare was certainly mentioned and included in our study of the Bible, but it wasn’t a heavy focus. I had a vague understanding of an ongoing spiritual conflict but I can’t say I made much connection to myself and my every day struggles.
I knew I was born sinful and Jesus saved me, but I didn’t give much thought to the ways that Satan tempts me into sin and tries to continually pull me away from God.
As an adult, the more I’ve studied the Bible I’ve grown in my understanding of this ongoing conflict. A pivotal series of books for me during my teen years were Frank Peretti’s books such as This Present Darkness. Although fictional (and perhaps not 100% accurate), if you have not read these books I highly encourage you to do so.
What Spiritual Warfare is Going on in Your Life Today?
The more you grow in your faith by the powerful work of the Holy Spirit, the more you will be in tune with the spiritual warfare going on in your own life.
It’s essential to know your enemy so that you are aware of his schemes. Pay attention to problem areas, repeated sins, conflicts, and difficult relationships. In what ways is it possible that the enemy has a hand in what is going on?
Sin (the wrong choices you make or fail to make) is your responsibility. As much as Satan might tempt you, you are the one who ultimately makes the decisions. So, don’t blame Satan for your sinful actions. Instead, become aware of how he tempts you and learn ways to resist.
How to Know if Something is Spiritual Warfare
How do you know if something is spiritual warfare and not a bad life situation?
In some sense, all difficulties you face in life are spiritual warfare. We live in a broken, sinful world that will not be made whole until eternity. We know that Satan has freedom here. (His rule is short term – see 2 Corinthians 4:4).
While the truth is ,we will never say with total certainty that a specific life situation is sa piritual warfare, looking at all life circumstances with a heavenly perspective is always helpful.
Here are some life situations that may be spiritual attacks:
- Ongoing build-up of one problem after another during a short time.
- Physical health issues
- Losses and trials
- Attacks of physical danger
- Increased temptation and lure toward sin
- Overwhelming feelings of depression, darkness, insomnia, fear, and anxiety. (Note – this does not deny the physical and medical realities of these conditions.)
- Severe feelings of guilt, shame, extreme doubt
- Feeling dulled, withdrawn, or without purpose
How to Fight the Fight of Faith in 5 Steps
How can you fight and win spiritual warfare? Here are practical tools for deliverance.
1. Accept Jesus as your Savior.
Ephesians 2:4 tells us that through grace is the only way to be saved. Learn more in this post about accepting Christ as your Savior.
2. Put on the armor of God.
You are not powerless in spiritual battles. God has given you a full armor of protection and tools to fight against the enemy. Read Ephesians 6 or see the list below for more details.
3. Resist the devil.
James 4:7 says to resist the devil, and he will flee. You do not have to give in to temptation. Do not play around with things you know are evil or even on the edge of evil. Click here to read more about spiritual fasting for breakthrough and prayers for fasting.
4. Draw near to God.
This same passage of James 4 in verse 8 says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” Continue to learn about God through His Word, pray, and be in community with other Christians.
5. Speak God’s truth out loud.
Say, “Be gone from me, Satan! In the name of Jesus, you have no power here.”
Finally, speaking the truth out loud is incredibly powerful. Years ago, a friend taught me this. When you are going through a spiritual battle, speak the name of Jesus out loud. Satan must flee at the name of Jesus.
3 Top Important Bible Verses about Spiritual Warfare
Here are three key Scripture verses about fighting spiritual attacks.
1. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
In 2 Corinthians 10 ,we learn that,”For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” The verses go on to talk about how to take every thought captive to obey Christ, which I explain in further detail in this post.
2. Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,
Isaiah 54:17
and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord
and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
Isaiah 54 says, “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.” You have ultimate victory when you have Jesus Christ in your life.
3. Ephesians 6:13-20
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 firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…
Ephesians 6:13-20
Finally, one of the most famous and important passages about spiritual warfare in all of scripture is Ephesians 6, which teaches about putting on the whole armor of God. With these tools and God’s power in you, you can defeat any enemy’s spiritual attack. You are armed and ready for battle.
What is the Armor of God from Ephesians 6?
Here is the armor of God as listed in Ephesians 6.
- Belt of truth
- Breastplate of righteousness
- Shoes of the gospel
- Shield of faith
- Helmet of salvation
- Sword of the spirit
Printable Daily Bible Reading Plan for Spiritual Warfare – Free PDF
Download this free printable spiritual battle Bible reading plan to spend these upcoming days learning more about warfare in the Bible with verses to read each day.
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