Day 306: Ephesians 6:10–13

Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil (v. 12).

We approach this day as a battalion of soldiers in the middle of a heavenly war. Lives are at risk. Casualties may be high. Our Commander in Chief issues orders. The victory is sure, but the fight will be difficult. Hear the voice of your Commander as He exhorts you to do the following:

1. Realize your natural limitations. We cannot enjoy spiritual victory without actively calling on the power of God. We are only strong when we are “strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength” (v. 10 hcsb).

2. Remember the “full armor” (v. 11). Paul exhorted us to use every weapon available. Picture your Commander in Chief standing behind a table displaying six tools or weapons. He says, “I’ve tailor-made each of these for you. You may take only some of them if you choose, but they were designed to work together. Your safety and effectiveness are only guaranteed if you use them all.” Trust me when I tell you that after at least six thousand years of practice on human targets, your enemy won’t waste arrows on well-armed places. He will aim for the spots you and I leave uncovered. I know it from experience.

3. Recognize your real enemies. The struggles of warfare you and I experience do not originate in spouses, in-laws, neighbors, coworkers, or any earthly foe. Spiritual forces of evil exist. Not every problem we have is warfare, of course. Sometimes the prescription is repentance from sin. Other times, however, it is fortification against the evil one.

4. Realize our enemies’ limitations. Satan and his powers and principalities cannot do anything they want with us. They have certain limitations. We can “resist” them, as Paul says in verse 13. Demons can oppress, but they cannot possess, for “when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation—in Him when you believed—[you] were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Eph. 1:13 hcsb). He has “sealed you for the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30 hcsb). Therefore, Satan cannot read your mind (though he can often guess what you’re thinking from past behavior). Walk in the freedom of knowing that when you received Christ, God dropped His Holy Spirit into you, slammed on the lid, and tightened the cap. Nothing can get in. Not even the enemy of your soul.