Remember where the real battle is

Are you fighting the wrong fight?

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)

The apostle Paul makes it clear in the book of Ephesians that our warfare is spiritual and that it is against "spiritual armies of wickedness in the heavenly places".

One of the ways these spiritual hosts of wickedness attack us is through human beings. Their attacks can manifest in how others treat us or act towards us. The negative things they say or do against us.

When this happens, our first instinct is to retaliate against the human. We often think that the best and only way to resolve the situation is to confront them, reprimand them, ask them for justice.

It works, especially if you are acting under the direction of the Lord. But too often we act out of pride and anger and that doesn't get us the results we want. Instead, it leads to more conflict and greater injustice. Why is this, you wonder? Because you are fighting the wrong fight.

Our warfare is not against flesh and blood, it is a spiritual warfare and therefore must be fought with spiritual weapons.

What are your weapons?

As Christians, our greatest weapon against the spiritual enemy is prayer. Too often, prayer is derided as a phrase Christians use when they don't want to do something about a situation. But that couldn't be further from the truth.

prayer is a weapon

Besides being a way to commune with our Heavenly Father, prayer is actually a powerful weapon that strengthens the spirit and breaks down strongholds and noble arguments against us and the Word of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-6)

A fervent prayer of faith is what makes a difference in a believer's life, just as it did with the prophet Elijah and the kingdom of Israel. (James 5:17-18)

Another powerful weapon is our conduct.

Our conduct is a weapon

Wives, likewise, be subject to your own husbands, that though some may not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chastity conducted accompanied by fear.

1 Peter 3:1-3 (NKJV)

Although in context this verse speaks of how wives should react to their unbelieving husbands, it still applies to all areas of our lives.

As Christians, we often forget how much the way we act toward others after being mistreated by them impacts things to come. When we respond not just with kindness, but with self-control and sometimes even silence, things change.

And this change changes things for our good. While change doesn't always change things the way you want it to, that doesn't take away from the good work of Christ that is being done in us as we are patient in our tribulation.

Remember why you fight

Just as it is important for us to remember what weapons we have and who we are fighting. It is also important to remember what we are fighting for.

If we are not careful, we may find ourselves fighting for the fleeting and momentary pleasures of life when in reality we are fighting to continually resist the devil and his tricks.

We fight to keep bearing the fruits of the spirit and becoming more Christlike.

We fight to stay the course to receive the crown of glory and eternal life. (1 Peter 5:4)

This is what we really fight for.

This does not mean that we should stand idly by in the face of injustice, corruption and oppression. God himself hates these things and actually encourages us to remember the poor and stand up for those who have no justice. (Proverbs 31:8-9)

But what we do, we have to be careful not to do it out of selfish ambition or pride. We need to make sure we are led by God's spirit because our own anger does not bring God's righteousness. (James 1:20)

And when we realize that our reasons for fighting are less than divine, let us remember where true justice, peace and salvation lie, in God and in the eternal house He has prepared for us. Related