By Toni Weisz/Spiritual Warfare       

If you are a Christian, spiritual warfare is a given.  If you want to obey God and honor Him with your life.  If you want God to heal your body, soul, mind, and spirit.  If you want God to be glorified in your relationships, in your work, in everything you do.  If you want to live your life for Him.  The enemy will take notice of you.    

As an older mature woman in Christ, I want to share with you younger women how to have victory over the darkness.  Consistency is the key.  Accountability is critical to your success.  You were not created to do this alone.  You were created for community.  

I have noticed a few important areas that are significant in our Christian walk that will help you have a victorious life in Christ.    We must guard ourselves from sin, which can come in the form of temptation, pride, unforgiveness, and fear/anxiety.  

First, we must be in the Word of God daily, reading His Word, memorizing Scripture, and in prayer.  

Second, we should be in community, a small group where we can be open and transparent about our struggles.  

Third, it is essential that we have an accountability partner.  If you follow the steps below, you will experience a greater sense of deep love, joy, and peace. 

1.  Temptation
We must keep ourselves unspotted by the world. (Read James 1:27c) What does that mean?  Guard against corruption from the godless world, the MSG translation. If you have a drinking problem, don’t hang out in a bar. If you have an issue with overspending, then don’t shop online when you are bored or need something to help you feel better.  Do not watch ungodly things on the TV, movies, or internet. Don’t listen to things that are not healthy or good.  Do not live with or have sex with someone who is not your husband.  As Christians, we cannot pick and choose certain Biblical principles and ignore some of them.  Either we obey God or we don’t.

2. Pride

If pride caused Lucifer, the most beautiful angel, to fall from heaven, it is a very real and dangerous thing for us too (Read Isaiah 14:12-15). 

“You, (Lucifer) were the anointed cherub, Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty, you were perfect in all your ways till iniquity was found in you.” Ezekiel 28:14-15.  

Pride is probably the most common sin among Christians because we can easily become self-sufficient, self-righteous, and harsh towards others.  We can look at sin in someone else’s life and not consider the plank in our own eyes (Read Matthew 7:3-5). That’s why it is so critically important that we daily ask God to show us our sins,
shortcomings, and character defects and to remove any blindness so we can see clearly the areas we need to change.  Ask Him to show us ways we have failed Him and have hurt ourselves and others. 

3. Unforgiveness

I have found in my life when I do not forgive others, it can cause an opening for the enemy to gain a foothold.  If you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses, Read Matthew 6:15. Unforgiveness can easily become bitterness, which is pictured in Scripture as having deep roots that take over our soul  (Read Hebrews 12:15).  This gives the evil one an advantage over us.  We are in a war, ladies, and the sooner we recognize this, the sooner we can begin to have victory in our lives over the evil one. 

4. Fear or Anxiety

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made to God; and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6-7  

We all know these verses, but do we follow what the Scriptures tell us to do?  Thank God in advance even when you cannot see the victory yet.  When we have faith to move mountains, God is able to supernaturally move on our behalf.  It takes faith in God to believe that He is who He says He is, the Most High God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth.  When we fret or worry, we are telling God, “I don’t trust You or believe You can handle this situation for me.”   It is the sin of unbelief.  Do not allow fear to paralyze you or cause you to jump ahead of God and make bad decisions.  

Conclusion:

God cannot protect us from the evil one if we are in sin.  It’s counterproductive.  It will not get us the results we need or desire.  God is waiting for us to call out to Him for help.  We must turn from our sinful ways and run to Jesus.  He is the only one that can save us from ourselves.  The more we spend time with Him, reading His Word, singing worship songs, and meditating on Scripture, the more we will be conformed into His image.  But we must choose Him.  He will not force us to obey and follow Him.  It’s out of our love and devotion to Him for all He has done for us, the least we can do is honor Him in our lives and serve Him.  

Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable perfect will of God

Romans 6:12-14
Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.  And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.  For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace.  

Questions to take to heart.

1. Are you struggling with a sin?
2. Have you asked God to forgive you?
3. Have you asked someone to hold you accountable to that area of weakness?
4. How can we pray for you?

I pray this topic has been helpful for you to examine your life.  If you are interested in an accountability partner, please reach out to me via an email at:
toni@myashestobeauty.com 

You are loved,
Toni