When someone has one thing go wrong after another, I’ll usually ask them, “Have you considered that these may be spiritual attacks that are showing up in the physical?” I’ve learned that spiritual warfare has a way of presenting itself as a physical attack. If we are only fighting in the physical, we will never get the result we need. It’s like washing your car without putting gas in it and expecting it to run because it’s clean. You can’t just take care of the outside. Fighting a spiritual battle in the physical alone is just like that. If you’re going to win, you’re going to have to put some gas in the tank.
We all know the story of David and Goliath. This is a perfect example of a spiritual battle that showed up in the physical. Saul and his men were just looking at the physical side of the battle and were terrified. They were outgunned. David immediately recognized it was spiritual and wanted to fight. In 1 Samuel 17:32 David told Saul, “Your Majesty, no one should be afraid of this Philistine! I will go and fight him” (GNT). Saul tried to put his armor on David, but physical armor is pointless in a spiritual battle.
When David stepped onto the battlefield, he said, “You are coming against me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the Israelite armies, which you have defied.” How did he win? He fought spiritually through the name above all names, he spent time worshiping before the battle and he spent time in prayer. God gave David the victory to show that He is able to save His people physically and spiritually. We have to be willing to stand on the physical battlefield with spiritual authority and fight with the spiritual weapons we’ve been given.
Photo by Aaron Thomas on Unsplash
Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
In my experience, the devil and his demon buddies like to work in the shadows. They don’t want us to believe there is a spiritual war happening. Yet, the Bible says that these, largely unseen battles, are often the most important component of our faith.
I enjoy your throwback Thursdays, Chris. They are usually not a throwback for me, as I haven’t seen them before. Blessings!
I talk to a lot of people who don’t realize they’re in a spiritual battle. They are overwhelmed and outmatched until we start fighting together on our knees.
I’m glad you enjoy the throwbacks. I like to look at them too. I write these and rarely come back to them. It’s a great experience for me too.
You are obviously a very busy guy, but you still manage to write prolifically. More power to you–God’s, of course!
I am a very busy guy. My wife would say too busy. I write as an act of obedience. It takes priority. I’m taking vacation next week so I may reblog one of yours if you don’t mind.