Outwitting
the Enemy
Choosing your battles
and outwitting the 1devil.
We've all heard the following phrases at some time, “Why did you
let her get to you like that?” “That's not a big deal. I wouldn't
even worry about that?” or “Girl, don't waste your time and
energy on that idiot.” or “Girl, it's too hot for that mess.”
Somewhere along those lines. What those phrases truly mean is, Choose
your battles, but that is not one of them.
We all have experienced
times in our life where people just get on our last nerve. Our
buttons have been pushed to the limit. Our patience has dwindled to
nothing and our fists are clenched. Our voices are raised and our
blood pressure is boiling. We've all been there at some point and
some of you were there... yesterday. But when we talk about choosing
our battles, the battles that we choose will not bring us to the
point of clenched fists, neither will the ones that we do not choose.
Everything that is mentioned above are signs of a person out of
control.
The
way we engage or outwit the enemy in our battles shows how long we
have strategically prepared for said battle. When we outwardly
display anger and frustration it shows the lack of power within
ourselves or... to put it another way, not knowing the power that
lies within us makes many act in a powerless manner. For when we have
power and when we know
we have power, there is no need to... as many elders would say, “Act
like a monkey.” The way we prepare for battle is by studying,
reading and practicing. Nothing comes to you without practice.
If
you want to do well in school you must study. If you want to be a
writer you must do a lot of reading. If you want to do well in
football you have to practice. If you want to excel in spiritual
warfare you must do all of the above. Sadly, in this age, many don't
want to take the time to read, study and practice; they'd rather wave
a wand and have immediate gratifications. Sorry, it doesn't work that
way. Even magicians practice. Practitioners of magic practice, study
and read. Nothing will come to you without practicing, readying and
studying.
How
we display ourselves in any spiritual situation shows how long we've
been learning, practicing and maturing in our warfare or craft.
Please don't get witchy woo-woo,
because I've used the word craft. Writers use the word craft
all the time It's the craft of writing. And I'm sure you've all heard
of arts & crafts. If you hear me use the word craft
don't automatically think witchcraft. I have to say this because
Christians can be very superstitious and fearful. Thus, if their
pastor didn't say it, it's of the devil. Many Christians need to
clear themselves from that mindset that religion has indoctrinated
upon them. With this mindset there can be no miraculous works and
definitely no place for spiritual warfare.
Spiritual
warfare is not about hiding in a corner and letting God handle it,
it's having the moxie to walk in your authority yourself.
But please note: You are not engaging in your own power, you're using
the power that God has given you in Genesis 1:26.
Our God-given authority. There is nothing worse than hearing someone
say, “This is to big for me. I'm gonna let God handle it.” This
is a perfect example of quenching the Spirit. I
Thessalonians 5:19. God has
given us the power and it is up to us to walk in it, not half way,
but completely.
How do we choose our
battles? Naturally it's a
personal choice, but I'm going to tell you a battle that really is
not worth your time. One of the biggest areas in life that causes the
most strife is when someone is talking about you. Someone doesn't
like you and is talking about you behind your back. How many of you
want to confront that person? Who doesn't? Especially if what they
are spreading are lies. Those are definitely not battles that we need
to get into a confrontation about or fight about or holler and scream
over. Those battles are small, meaningless, petty spirits that will
reel you into their game making you just as petty as them. Misery
loves company. People who gossip love other people who gossip. People
who stir up strife love other people who stir up strife. This is not
spiritual warfare.
The
more you study and practice the art of spiritual warfare the more
you'll understand the art of binding and loosing. To bind
means to tie something together, or glue something together. To loose
of course means to undo something bound or tied together. To loose
also means to set free.
What do you do?
In spiritual warfare, when someone is talking about you falsely, you
can bind their spirit by binding Psalm 59
upon your heart. Psalm 59
is a chapter that focuses on keeping your enemies away. You are
asking God to deliver and defend you from your enemies. You are
asking God to awake and visit them. You are asking God to do judgment
against them for cursing and lying about you. (Psalm 59:12)
Now,
when I mention the above chapter to Christians, you can hear a pin
drop in the room. This is an area that scares them, but this is
spiritual warfare. Understanding your power and using it. Spiritual
warfare is about walking in said power. It is about standing on the
Word of God. When we are faithfully walking with God it is about
standing on Exodus 23:22,
when God says, “...I will be an enemy unto your enemies, and an
adversary unto your adversaries.” Once again silence fills the
room. But some Christians will say, “I don't know about that. I
have to pray on that. I don't think God wants me to do that.” My
response is, “Why is it in the Bible if you can't use it?” Once
again, you can hear a pin drop.
We
know that vengeance belongs to the Lord, Deuteronomy 32:35
tells us this and most will not
disagree with this fact. Subsequently, there are other Bible verses
which state this fact as well. With this said, let me ask this
question for you mothers out there: If your child is having problems
in school no matter what the issue is, grades, bullies, homework,
etc. what do you do? Most mothers will go to the school and gather
more information in an attempt to rectify the situation; is that
correct? Question: Why did the mother go to the school? The only
reason the mother went to the school, on this matter, is because she
was informed about the matter. Someone told her. Was it her child,
teacher, principal? Another parent? It doesn't matter, the fact is,
she was informed on the situation; therefore, she responded. As a
lioness, she responded. Nobody messes with the cubs of a lioness or
the cubs of a mother bear... why? Because when the lioness or mother
bear hears that one of her cubs is in danger she does what? Responds
accordingly.
When
we think about spiritual warfare, we must think on that same level as
being... children of God as it is written in Galatians
3:26, Matthew 5:9, Psalm 82:6
and throughout the entire Bible we are God's children and God will
act accordingly when it comes to his children. If you can't grasp
that fact, you will have a tremendously difficult time engaging in
spiritual warfare.
In
addition, there are some times when your child will tell you a
situation and you ask, “Do you want me to handle that?” Sometimes
the child will say, “No, I'll handle it.” Now, the way your child
will handle the situation is based upon how you have shown or
instructed them to. Thus, when you engage in spiritual warfare you
will engage based upon how God has shown you via the Word which is
the Bible, the Bible being the Word of God.
We
read all throughout the book of Psalms how David was asking God to
step in. We read in the Old Testament how the Israelites were asking
God to step in. They asked God to step in and what did God do. He
acted accordingly. If God never changes as it is written in Hebrews
13:8, asking and receiving must
still apply today because God never changes.
Luke 11:10, “For
every one that asks receives...”
Luke 11:9 and Matthew
7:7, “...Ask, and it shall be given you...”
John 14:14, “If you
will ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
James 4:2, “...you
have not, because you ask not.”
For
some reason, I believe mostly fear, many Christians have a big
problem with engaging in spiritual warfare and asking God to step in
even though it is written. But this is how we strategically handle
petty situations or minute matters. It is written. We find the
scripture, speak it, bind it to our heart and lay hold on the
promise. Therefore, if I'm having an issue with a co-worker, every
morning before I go to work, I will read Psalm 59
out loud, bind it to my heart which means believing and standing on
what is written and memorizing key verses that apply to my situation
and walking in the promise.
When
you see that co-worker you will automatically be reminded of Psalm
59. You will automatically be
reminded of the verse you've memorized perhaps the 12th
verse which reads, “For the sin of their mouth and the words of
their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and
lying which they speak.”
Side
note: As you notice with Psalm 59:12,
“...and for cursing and lying which they speak...” that sentence
was an after thought. It's like an, “Oh, I almost forgot and also
for the cursing and lying which they speak.” David asked for what
he wanted. As he thought about what he wanted he asked for it. Thus,
many have read he received it.
We,
as children of God, will do the same. When you sense or hear the
gossip, be reminded of the 2nd
verse, “Deliver me from the workers of iniquity...” If your
co-worker approaches you negatively, you might think of the 1st
verse, “...defend me from them that rise up against me.”
Upon
entering the workplace you might say verse 10, “...God shall let me
see my desire upon mine enemies.” Only God knows what your desire
is. Only God knows the desires of the heart. It may be to be
supervisor over them, or to see them transferred to another
department, or to be humbled. Only
God should know what your desire is.
Only
God should know what your desire is. I want to really stress that
point. A lot of times some have a tendency to tell-all.
If you're engaging in war you don't broadcast your plan. You don't
tell others about your plans. If your co-worker is gossiping or
approaches you, you will not suck your teeth and say, “I'm gonna
pray for you. I'm going home and I'm gonna read Psalm
59!”
No need to read it for you've missed the point. Spiritual warfare
isn't about bragging about what you're going to do it's simply taking
the time to do it. To get into your private prayer room or quiet
space and engage in spiritual warfare on the issue at hand.
Side
note: You never heard Jesus or the apostles bragging about what they
could do. They just did it. When you walk in power there's no need to
brag. Have you ever heard the phrase, people who talk a lot have
little knowledge, but those who are quiet have a lot? This is another
side to spiritual warfare. One must know when to speak and when to
keep silent.
Ladies,
this is how we engage in spiritual warfare. Our role is to outwit
the enemy
not engage or act like them, but to outwit them. We don't have to
yell, scream, fight, get angry, return gossip or throw a fit. We will
strategically plan and practice. However, the situation above doesn't
only have to involve a co-worker, it can be a relative as in your
in-laws, sorority, social groups, or even church folks. Let's face
it, the majority of your issues will be against so-called
Christians... church folks. But the more you practice, read and
study, the stronger you will become. The stronger mentally,
emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Physically as in health
wise. You'll be healthier because you won't be carrying around all
the stress, mess and drama from others.
If
you are not having a problem with your co-worker, or gossip from any
other area of your life, keep Psalm
59
close to mind because you may come across someone who can benefit
from it. In spiritual warfare, it may not always be your warfare, but
a way to help others in their season of war. We read, study and
practice, so we can help or teach others in their due season. And
remember, each one... teach one.
Until
next time.
TNJR/5/12/2017
11:37
AM
Strong's
Concordance Greek #1228 devil means, adversary, false accusers,
slanderers, or a wicked person. Thus, anyone can be an
adversary, slanderer or accuser at any time. The word devil
refers to the way in which a person is acting. John told the
police that I stole his car. John
is an accuser.
