Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.  Ephesians 6:11 (AMP)  Most people think spiritual warfare means there’s a fight going on in your spirit. But if you’re a believer, Jesus is in your spirit, so the enemy is not battling you there.  The truth is, the enemy is after your mind. Your mind is the part of you that makes decisions, and Satan wants that under his manipulative influence. One of the ways he tries to accomplish this is by working to sway your thoughts and beliefs.   He’ll try pushing hurtful …

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  2 Timothy 3:12 (NLT)  Many people think that suffering persecution only refers to being mistreated or facing hardships. But the word persecution actually means to pursue someone.  Why would Satan cause persecution to come against you? He’s pursuing you to drive you away. What does he want to steer you away from? The powerful destiny God has for you. The enemy can’t afford to have determined, effective believers making a difference in the world!  You see, Satan isn’t worried about believers—until they begin to take God at His Word. When you start to live out His purpose, you become a significant threat to the enemy. Hell begins to tremble!  Satan …

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) God has prearranged paths for our lives, but following them is our choice. After all, today’s verse doesn’t say He forces us to walk out the paths He’s preplanned for us; it says we should.  Of course, you can do things your own way and find a level of success. But it won’t be as rich or fulfilling as pursuing God’s paths for your life. His plans are where you’ll discover your divine purpose.  That’s because He has created specific abilities and interests within you that come alive and thrive when you walk in His plans for you. Not only that, …

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:37 (NLT)  We’ve been talking over the past few days about the effects of fear. Today, let’s look at how it can cause us to hold a false self-image.  Judges chapter 6 provides a great example. Gideon was secretly threshing grain on the floor of his family’s winepress, hidden from his enemies. Suddenly, an angel appeared and announced, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” (Judges 6:12, NLT).  Shocked, Gideon countered the angel’s comment because he viewed himself as the bottom of the barrel. You see, fear causes us to believe lies. Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”  However, incredible change came over …

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”  Luke 18:22 (ESV)  A spirit of fear leads us to pursue the wrong people and things.  For example, fear may cause you to avoid relationships with faith-filled, risk-taking people. They might be just the friends you need, but you feel more comfortable with people who share similar fears to yours.  Luke 18:18-23 provides an example of this. A rich young ruler approached Jesus and asked what he had to do to receive eternal life. Jesus responded by telling him to keep God’s commandments. The young man declared he had. Then Jesus addressed …