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“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)

Life is filled with endless challenges, obstacles, and battles that we must face. From the moment we are born, we are thrust into a world that tests our resilience, our strength, and our ability to persevere. 

As followers of Christ, we know all too well that the Christian life is not without its fair share of battles and trials. From the moment we surrender our lives to Jesus, we enter into a spiritual war, one in which the forces of darkness seek to undermine our faith, sap our strength, and keep us from fulfilling the destiny God has planned for our lives. 

There are so many battles we encounter in different phases and areas of life. Battles in marriages, careers, health, finances, academics, neighborhood, etc. These are often perceived as physical battles. But, we need to understand that life, itself is spiritual. It is what has happened or what is happening in the spiritual that is made manifest in the physical.

Whether it's the loss of a loved one, a financial crisis, or a debilitating illness, these challenges can shake our faith and leave us feeling overwhelmed and defeated. These are battles against the trials and hardships that inevitably come our way. 

One of the primary battlegrounds in the Christian life is the war against our own flesh and the temptations that seek to lure us away from God’s path. The Apostle Paul himself struggled with this internal battle, as he writes in Romans 7:15, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (ESV) 

Another formidable battle we must face in life is the battle against the opinions and expectations of others. In a world that is constantly telling us who we should be and how we should live, it can be incredibly challenging to remain true to ourselves and to forge our own path. 

In addition, the battles we face in life are the battle against our own internal demons – the negative self-talk, the limiting beliefs, and the destructive patterns that can hold us back from reaching our full potential. It is easy to become trapped in a cycle of self-sabotage, where our own thoughts and behaviors work against us, rather than for us. 

More so, as Christians, we face battles against the lies and deceptions of the enemy. The devil is constantly seeking to undermine our faith, to fill our minds with doubt and fear, and to convince us that we are unworthy of God’s love and grace.

...to be continued