Theoden: I will not risk open war.
Aragorn: Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not.
(The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers)
As an avid fan of The Lord of the Rings, I find myself using quotes from it ever so often in my writing and today’s quote just seemed to perfectly sum up my life at this point in time. Open war is upon me whether I want it or not! “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]” Ephesians 6:12-13 (AMP).
I confess I never wanted to “risk open war” but as a child of God trying to live for the One I love, I have become a target of the enemy. There is nothing all that special about me; the truth is that the One he really hates is my Father. But since He can’t get to Him, he goes after His children. Which means he comes after me. What better way to hurt a parent than to go after their child? My enemy is ruthless, and he stoops to some really low levels to get to me. Days like this, it almost feels as if he is winning and I have to work extra hard to remind myself of the truth. I am on the winning side. The enemy has already lost the battle. No matter what circumstances look like, my Father is still in control! I do not face this battle alone; my Father is here with me. I will make it through this battle!
Open war may be upon me whether I wanted it or not, but I am not in the war alone! I am not alone, and I am not helpless. When the battle gets fierce, when the wounds keep piling up, I must keep focusing on what is true. I must keep my eyes fixed on my beloved Savior. When the enemy comes hard after me, I must cling even tighter to the One who has already won the war. When the enemy comes hard after me, after my loved ones, I have to learn to come hard after him in prayer. You see; by myself I am nothing, but with my God, I can defeat him! You see; the real battle is fought in the spiritual realm. Which means I must learn how to do battle in the spiritual realm! I must learn how to fight on the real battlefield; that is the only way I can achieve victory.
The real battle is fought through prayer and by walking in truth. You see; through prayer we have access to the power that has already defeated the enemy. “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” Colossians 2:15. Jesus has already triumphed over the enemy! And through prayer, we call on Him to fight for us; we ask Him to do what we cannot do! “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” James 5:16. My friend, if I didn’t know, I mean really know, that prayer works, I would despair. I would lose hope on days like this when the attacks seem so intense, when the enemy seems to be winning on so many fronts. But I do know prayer works, so, I’m just going to keep on praying!
I refuse to give in; I refuse to surrender to an enemy that my Savior has already defeated! I just cannot allow that to happen; I have to keep fighting. I am wounded but I will wipe the blood from my face and keep pressing on. I am tired but I will keep putting one foot in front of the other. If I have to, I will crawl, but there is something in me that simply refuses to get up. I will wipe my tears with my bruised and battered knuckles and fight another day. I know I can, because He will help me. “’Not by might not by power, but by My Spirit’ says the LORD of hosts” Zechariah 4:6b. He will strengthen me, and He will help me to keep pressing on. He will not let the enemy defeat me. I know that with His help, I will not fail. I know that with His help I can face whatever the enemy throws my way.
“I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]” Phil. 4:13 (AMP). Through prayer and clinging to truths like this, I can and will make it through. The enemy specializes in deception, so, it is vital that I know truth. If I want to defeat the enemy, I must immerse myself in truth! Jesus said it is “the truth that sets us free” (John 8:32), so, if I want to be free, I have to know and believe truth! I am at war and if I want to win, I must use the strategies that Scripture says leads to victory. “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” James 4:7.
We are at war, but the victory is ours, my friend!
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. Rev. 21:4, 7
Katrina Douglas
