How To Overcome Spiritual Battles

Jesus tells opponents in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark that bad thoughts come from the heart, i.e. the mind. Their issue was that the government was in charge of their thoughts “Because they didn't believe the gospel, they were dubbed “gods of this world”:

…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, preventing them from seeing the light of the gospel of Christ's glory, who is the image of God.

…the prince of the air's power, the spirit at work in the sons of disobedience right now.

And, despite the fact that you were before estranged and hostile in attitude, committing wicked activities…

But there is still hope!! There is a cure for a mind that is antagonistic to God, whose thoughts are the same as everyone else's in the world “world” with the values and attitudes of society. We are reconciled to God through faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Yet, by death, He has reconciled you to Himself in His fleshly form, in order to bring you before Him spotless, faultless, and without reproach—

You don't have to be enslaved by thoughts that drag you down in despair and leave you feeling hopeless in this life. The Holy Spirit dwells in you when you believe the gospel and are set apart to God. He gives you the strength to change.

By changing the way we think, we can change our minds. Our minds can be reformed to live in an intimate connection with God, according to Romans 12:2.

And don't be conformed to this world, but be changed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may demonstrate what God's will is, what is good, acceptable, and perfect.

But I've believed the Gospel? Why do I still think the way I do? I'm so frustrated!

The difficulty is that there is now a spiritual warfare battle for your mind. It's a war in which the adversary understands that if he can control your thoughts, he can control your actions. In this spiritual battle, Satan tries to divert your attention away from God's truth so that he can derail and destroy your life. Satan wants you to think thoughts that are not in accordance with God's Word.

What are the enemy's goals?

Satan's primary purpose is to prevent non-Christians from accepting Jesus Christ's truth. He seeks to render Christians ineffectual; he wants to cast doubt on God's love, Christ's deity, and the efficacy of Jesus' atonement for our sins. He's ruthless and always on the lookout for anyone he can annihilate.

According to First Peter 5:8, “Keep a level head and be on the lookout. The devil, your adversary, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat.” The noun “The word “prowls” is in the Greek present tense, which meaning “to be on the lookout.” The opponent is always on the lookout, hoping to beat us in combat. He wants to insult God's name, and he wants us to turn and dishonor God as well.

How does he attack us personally?

Christians are expected to demonstrate their love by the way they live out their faith. Jesus proclaims in John 13:35, “If you have love for one another, all men will know you are My disciples.” The enemy's goal is to make Christians look indistinguishable from the rest of the world by encouraging division, infighting, and alienation. The enemy is the first to blame us before God once that divide has taken hold.

Then, in heaven, I heard a loud voice say, “Now our God's redemption, power, and kingdom, as well as the authority of His Christ, have come, since the accuser of our brethren, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been thrown down.”

Even while we walk in the flesh, we do not fight in the flesh, because the weapons of our warfare are divinely powerful and designed to destroy fortresses. We're killing hypotheses and every lofty thing that stands in the way of God's knowledge, and we're enslaving every thinking to Christ's obedience.

How can I protect my mind?

God has provided us with spiritual armor to assist us protect our minds in spiritual warfare. The components of the armor God has given us to be strong in spiritual conflicts are described in Ephesians 6.

• Put on all of God's armor so that you can stand steadfast in the face of the devil's plans.
• Because our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, powers, world forces of this darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the high realms.
• As a result, put on the entire armor of God so that you might resist in the evil day and, having done everything, stand firm.
• So, having girded your loins with truth and putting on the breastplate of righteousness, stand firm.
• Furthermore, you must take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all of the evil one's fire darts.
• Take the salvation helmet and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's word.

The Full Armor of God

Notice Ephesians 6:10-11, which states to be strong in His strength rather than your own. The Greek verb “endunamoo” means “to be strong.” It's stated in the passive form, which means we get the action; literally, God empowers us and we get His strength. It is the Lord's action, not ours, that is taking place. The only thing we can do is put on God's spiritual armor.

What are battles for your mind?

Spiritual warfare and personal attacks are both used to fight for your mind. Paul describes how a spiritual struggle looks and how he responds to it in 2 Corinthians.

How do we take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ?

Philippians 4:8 explains how to bring every thinking under the control of Christ's obedience.

Finally, friends, reflect on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, beautiful, of good repute, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise.

Paul advises us to think on the following things in order to win our mental battles:

whatever is well-known (praiseworthy, rings true to the highest standards)

Compare your thoughts to Philippians 4:8's list of items to consider. Stop dwelling on or thinking about something troubling and “Philippians-4:8” it and “frisk” your thoughts if you find yourself doing so. Check to see if they're dangerous, or if they might jeopardize your relationship with God or others.

“Impossible!” you may be thinking at this point. No one can be in complete control of their thoughts. There are some things you just can't stop thinking about.” To some extent, this is correct. However, there are two factors to keep in mind:

• First and foremost, this is God's battle, fought in God's might and with God's armor. As a result, we remain steady and trust in the Lord.
• Second, we can only concentrate on one item at a time. What you're thinking about right now should be changed. Fill your mind with Scripture and use Philippians 4:8 to assess negative thoughts.

How do I clear my mind of these thoughts?

Scripture memory can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Here are some pointers to help you get started.

• Write scriptures on 35 index cards and read them over and over until the words are ingrained in your mind.
• Frequently read the Bible. Some people enjoy reading the same verse three times. Others read it three times a day till it is ingrained in their minds.
• Others choose to read it through each word in the stanza one at a time, emphasizing one word at a time. Using Romans 6:2, it would look like this.

Recite the verse(s) you're memorizing whenever you find yourself in a battle with a thought you know is bad, for as long as it takes to regain control of your mental life. As soon as you feel fear, anxiety, or worry come into your mind, pray to the Lord. Then go to His Word and take captive every idea, replacing it with Scripture. You'll be astounded by the freedom you gain—which is your birthright as a King's child. You'll be astounded when you witness the Lord fight on your behalf.

Are You Prepared for Battle?

This article only scratches the surface of spiritual warfare. When battling spiritual difficulties, one of our Level 1 studies may be a wonderful resource to look to. Kay Arthur and BJ Lawson's Spiritual Warfare: Overcoming the Enemy is a six-week study that will help you obtain a complete understanding of the enemy's tactics and schemes. You will learn the truth about Satan, including the limits of his strength, in each course, which is designed to take less than 40 minutes per day. You'll also be able to defend yourself against his attacks and devise a plan for living a life of winning on a daily basis. Also, Is This Warfare, Lord? Kay Arthur's Teach Me to Stand is an amazing Level 2 resource.

How do you combat spiritual warfare?

Because we know God and that he is bigger than the devil and his schemes against us, we can come up against and battle spiritual warfare.

As previously said, the name of Jesus is extremely powerful; we witnessed devils fleeing at the sight of Jesus.

The disciples of Jesus used his name to cast out demons, and Paul did the same in the book of Acts.

“I demand you to get out of her in the name of Jesus Christ,” I turned and said to the ghost. And it was released at that exact hour.

Even today, when facing spiritual warfare, it is effective to use Jesus' name because his name has power.

In the Bible, we see Jesus cast out a demon that his followers were unable to cast out. When the disciples questioned why not, Jesus replied,

Using Jesus as an example, we can see how scripture can be used to combat the evil one in spiritual battle.

After forty days of fasting, Jesus was tempted in the desert, and scripture was his defense against Satan.

We must know scripture in order to use it against the devil and his lies. When the devil lies to us about who we are in Christ, we must remember that we are a new creature, no longer our old selves, as 2 Corinthians 5:17 says.

When we are in the midst of spiritual conflict, worship music can be very effective. It allows us to recognize both who God is and his vast power, as well as who we are in Christ. Worship music helps us focus on God rather than the world's idols.

We are always engaged in spiritual warfare, and hopefully, we will be prepared to fight back against the devil's schemes to lead us away from God. To avoid being led astray, we must be in God's word and recall Jesus' example.

How can I overcome spiritual struggles?

It may seem self-evident, but the solution to any situation is to seek God's help. God already knows what we're going through, and he wants us to come to him with all of our concerns. If there is apparent sin in my life, I must first seek forgiveness from God. However, even when I am not conscious of evident transgressions, God might appear distant. I can still pray to God for assistance. “You make known to me the way of life,” says Psalm 16:11, “and you will fill me with delight in your presence, with endless pleasures at your right side.” I can pray that God will reveal his ways to me and fill me with delight when I am in his presence.

What is the reason for spiritual warfare?

Spiritual warfare is the Christian concept of combating supernatural evil powers at work. It is founded on the biblical belief in evil spirits, often known as demons, who are thought to meddle in human affairs in a variety of ways. Although neo-charismatic churches emphasize spiritual warfare, other Christian denominations and groups have adopted behaviors based on spiritual warfare notions, with Christian demonology frequently playing a crucial role in these practices and beliefs.

Prayer is one of the most prevalent forms of “spiritual warfare” used by these Christians. Exorcism, the laying on of hands, fasting with prayer, praise and worship, and anointing with oil are examples of other practices.

How do I become stronger spiritually?

When trying to put all eight aspects of wellness together, the spiritual aspect of wellness can be the most individualized piece of the puzzle. People, on the whole, like to live lives that have meaning and purpose. When these objectives are attained, it brings peace into one's life and the lives of those around them.

So, what are some things you may do to increase your spiritual well-being? It's best to experiment with several ways to see what works best for you. Spiritual wellbeing can be reached in a variety of ways, both physically and intellectually, because it involves one's values, beliefs, and purpose.

1. Examine your spiritual foundation. You are merely asking yourself questions about who you are and what you mean when you explore your spiritual essence. Consider the following question: “Who am I?” What is the point of my existence? What am I most passionate about? These questions will lead you down a path where you will think more deeply about yourself and recognize aspects of yourself that will assist you in achieving fulfillment.

2. Search for hidden meanings. Looking for deeper meanings and examining patterns in your life will help you realize that you have power over your future. Knowing this can help you live a happier and healthier life.

3. Get it off your chest. It will be easier to retain a concentrated mind if you express what is on your mind. You may feel befuddled and unable to make sense of your feelings after a long day or an important event. You may be able to think more clearly and move forward if you write down your thoughts.

4. Give yoga a shot. Yoga is a physical discipline that can help you achieve spiritual wellness by eliminating mental and physical stress. Yoga is taught at all levels and can help relieve anxiety, sadness, weariness, and sleeplessness as well as reducing stress, strengthen the immune system, and lower blood pressure.

5. Take a trip. Yes, it is correct! Taking time for yourself to travel to a familiar location or to a new location can do wonders for your mental health. You will have a greater connection with yourself when your mind is able to block out distractions and assist you in reflecting and resting. This allows you to eliminate stressors and retrain your mind to focus on total wellness. Exercising, visiting with a counselor or advisor, meditation, or taking a temporary vow of silence are all activities that can be done while on a trip.

6. Keep an optimistic attitude. You will find yourself thinking differently and shifting your mind to a happy, healthy place once you begin to view things in your life in a good light. You'll discover that you're more comfortable when you eliminate negativity and re-frame how you think about specific things and situations.

7. Set aside some time to meditate. While managing your time and everyday tasks can be difficult, it is critical to make time for yourself. Take five to ten minutes each day to meditate, whether it's first thing in the morning, during your lunch break, or right before bedtime. By incorporating meditation and relaxation into your daily routine, you will be able to clear your mind and strengthen your connection to your spiritual well-being.

Source: http://student-affairs.illinoisstate.edu/health-promotion-and-wellness/7-ways-improve-spiritual-wellness/

How do you pray against your enemies?

I command the storm of destruction to gather upon every satanic power that is against my health IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS! I decree and declare great casualty upon witches and wizards operating in my neighborhood, the judgment of God shall torment the powers of darkness working against me both at night and in the morning, the night shall carry terror and anger against all satanic powers that are standing against me, the night shall carry terror and anger against all satanic powers that

RIGHT NOW, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, my prayers have become earthquakes and storms in the devil's camp that is against my life; the Lord shall gather his armor against powers that are against my intellectual growth; all sickness in my life, known or unknown, receives heavenly storm; all conspiracy against any part of my body receives destruction now!

I order the deep wells inside me to be freed and broken forth in the name of JESUS!

What is spiritual struggle?

• Over the last 30 years, psychological study on a number of spiritual issues has been done. Spiritual problems are one spiritual issue that has garnered a lot of attention.
• People are affected not only psychologically, socially, and physically by major life challenges, but also spiritually.
• Natural disasters, accidents, sicknesses, and other stressful circumstances can put people's spiritual lives in jeopardy or cause them to struggle spiritually.
• Spiritual coping problems are attempts to protect or transform people's relationships with whatever they consider precious, such as their connection to God/Higher Power, spiritual identity, and religious community connections.
• Terminology. Many studies on spiritual difficulty use the phrase “negative religious coping,” but we and other researchers have started to use the term “spiritual/religious problems.” Why?
• Spiritual conflicts can be watershed moments in human development or “forks in the path.”
• According to several research, persons who are able to resolve spiritual conflicts over time gain and grow from them.
• Others may choose to temporarily or permanently withdraw from spiritual challenges.
• Others who are stuck in their troubles emotionally and physically deteriorate.
• Even atheists and non-religious people may deal with spiritual issues such as feeling distanced from, unhappy with, angry with, or abandoned by God.
• See Constructs/Our Measures for more broad background information on spiritual problems.
• Spiritual conflicts refer to disagreements with God/Higher Power, oneself, and others over spiritual topics. Distressing feelings and doubts about one's spiritual journey in life arise as a result of these tensions.
• Internal/intrapsychic spiritual conflicts—inner conflict about spirituality or religion
• Spiritual conflicts with other family members, friends, clergy, community members, or the greater culture concerning spirituality or religion are interpersonal/communal spiritual challenges.
• The 7-item Negative Religious Coping subscale from the Brief RCOPE is most typically used to assess spiritual problems (Pargament, Feuille, & Burdzy, 2011). For the entire Brief RCOPE and lengthier scales to more fully examine spiritual problems, go to Constructs/Our Measures.
• For additional information on how we define these two overlapping concepts, see Defining Religion & Spirituality.

What comprehensive empirical research on Spiritual Struggles in Coping with Marital Problems has been conducted?

• Despite substantial research on spiritual issues in other areas, there has been essentially no systematic research on spiritual struggles in marriage. Nonetheless, the Relational Spirituality Framework emphasizes that serious or persistent marital issues, such as infidelity, can lead to private or communal spiritual challenges with God.
• Prior research on spirituality and marital problems has relied on indirect indicators to determine if people feel spiritual struggles as a result of marital problems, such as frequency of religious attendance or overall value of religion in everyday life. We employ definitions and measurements of spiritual challenges established in past research on non-marital stressors to stimulate more in-depth study on spiritual struggles with marital problems (e.g., natural diasters, health problems).
• In practice, we have concentrated our research on Divine Spiritual Struggles rather than Internal or Interpersonal Spiritual Struggles in relation to marital issues.
• When it comes to interpreting and reacting to marital problems, we characterize Divine Spiritual Struggles with Marital Problems as having a confrontation with God. It's helpful to define conflict before delving into this definition. We define conflict as an individual's internal or external conflicts over his or her life goals and/or paths to achieving those goals. When troubles emerge, humans can be in conflict with God, just as they might have internal or interpersonal conflict. Problems in marriage can jeopardize life ambitions. An individual may have a disagreement with God about why marital difficulties have arisen and what should be done to resolve them. These conflicts with God might lead to negative feelings and thoughts regarding one's relationship with God.

For psychological research, how do we measure Divine Struggles in Coping with Marital Problems?

• We used the following three sub-scales (three items each) from Pargament's R-COPE to assess divine spiritual struggles with marital troubles in our transition to parenting study. These nine items were mixed in with R-COPE sub-scale items from other sub-scales. For additional information on the history and development of the R-COPE and Spiritual Struggles Sub-scales, see Constructs/Our Measures.
• Instructions for dealing with marital troubles include the following: The sentences that follow outline particular ways that people might manage with the inevitable marital problems that arise from time to time. When you think about the challenges you've had in your marriage, how much do you use each of the following to deal with them? When I'm having marital issues, I…

How might Divine Spiritual Struggles in Coping with Marital Problems benefit or hinder a marriage or couple relationship?

• To the best of our knowledge, our study on the transition to parenthood is the first attempt to investigate how much married couples experience spiritual struggles as a result of marital difficulties, and what impact these divine spiritual struggles have on the marriage and each spouse's psychological or spiritual well-being. We are presently doing analyses and will report back when we have more information.

How do you get over struggle in the Bible?

When we turn to God for help, he will provide us with the strength we need to get through the difficult times. Here are a few verses that testify to his unwavering love for us and how he will strengthen us when we pray to Him.

When our strength is gone, His strength is flawless. When we are unable to continue, he will carry us. The weak become powerful as they are raised in His might. His strength is unsurpassed.” Steven Curtis Chapman and Jerry Salley

16:8 (Psalm) I've made it a point to keep the Lord in front of me at all times. I will not be rattled since Jesus is at my right hand.

3:2 Thessalonians The Lord, on the other hand, is trustworthy, and he will strengthen and safeguard you from the evil one.

8:28 (Romans) And we know that God works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose in all he does.

4:11–13 Philippians Not that I speak from a position of want; I've learnt to be content in any situation. I know how to live on a shoestring budget and how to live comfortably; in whatever situation, I've figured out how to be satisfied and hungry, to have plenty and to be in need. Through Him who strengthens me, I can accomplish everything.

1 Chronicles 1:9 Be brave and strong; do not be afraid or discouraged, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

31:6,8 Deuteronomy Be strong and courageous, and have no fear or dread of them because the Lord, your God, is going before of you. He will always be there for you; he will never abandon you. Do not be alarmed or alarmed.

How can you make it possible to pray together?

“Speak only what is beneficial in edifying others according to their needs, so that those who listen can profit.” 4:29 (Ephesians) (NIV)

“Again, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, my Father in heaven will do it for them.”

For where two or three get together in my name, I am present.”

19-20 in Matthew 18:19-20 in Matthew 18:19-20 in Matthew 18:19

It's a well-known fact that Christian couples find it difficult to pray together.

“The couple who prays together stays together,” it's been stated. and the evidence shows that this is overwhelmingly accurate. Couples who pray together develop their relationships and their intimacy with God and with their spouses. Why don't you join them?

• Invite your spouse to join you in prayer: Be sympathetic to your spouse's emotions of spiritual inadequacy. Share with him or her that he or she is not required to lead the process or even pray aloud. “You can simply take my hand in yours and pray silently with me,” is a nice place to begin.
• Decide on a time and location: The “when and where?” question is the first step in establishing a habit. When will we be able to connect without interruption? Is there a quiet place where we can pray? To overcome any aversions to praying together, it would be helpful to set aside some time.
• Make a list of issues you'd want to pray for as a family: Begin with demands that are personal to you, your spouse, your children, and your family. The more closely the issues are related, the more invested you will be in the process.
• Pray in a conversational style, which some refer to as “ping pong praying.”
• You each offer short sentence prayers for the first request before moving on to the next on your list.
• This strategy keeps your thoughts from straying and your time moving.
• “Please help Bart to recognize his need to soften his heart and let me do what I want to do…” is not going to encourage Bart's continuing participation!
• If you miss a day, don't give up: consistency will come with time.
• Relax and don't be discouraged by the enemy.
• Allow your partner to remind you that it is time to pray at any time.
• Assume joint leadership responsibilities for this process.

Take a moment to pray and ask the Lord to help you overcome your concerns and anxiety as you work through this list.