Prepared for the battle
Imagine this. Two men, Josh and Darrel set up a boxing match with hopes that one of them is going to win and be named the next undefeated champion. However, instead of Josh rehearsing his moves, studying his opponent, exercising, and coming up with favorable strategies and tactics to overthrow his competition he lays on the couch, watches TV, and munches on junk food during the two weeks he was supposed to prepare. Yet, on the last day, he says his prayers, jogs for an hour, practices in the gym, and sleeps early. Josh has no doubt he won’t win, he’s confident in his skills because he’s done this over a dozen times.
Meanwhile, for the past two weeks, Darrel doubled up on his gym time, added extra sessions with his boxing coach, and investigated Josh’s favorite fighting positions and tricks. Darrel was not counting on what he used in the past to win; he put himself in a position to learn because his mind was set on taking home that trophy at the end of the night. The crowd cheers in excitement and expectation. Who will be the winner? they think to themselves as Darrel and Josh make their way into the ring. Josh tries to smack a punch at Darrel, but since Darrell studied his moves he ducked and moved out of the way, jumping and catching Josh off guard in enough time to swing him in the jaw. Josh falls but bounces up in pain, yet not before Darrel punches him a second, third, and fourth time. Will Josh get up? The referee counts down and although Josh tries physically he’s out of shape. “And the winner is…” Darrel smiles at the crowd, with a tight grip on his trophy.
Clearly, Josh should have come prepared right?
He had more than enough time to do so, but he was so confident in his skills that he underestimated his opponent. We can all can sympathize with Josh yet we know Darrel won fair and square.
Now I want you to think about yourself. In the boxing ring with you and your adversary (Satan) are you Josh or are you, Darrel?
The enemy is not smart but he is cunning. He has studied you from the time you were born. Why do you think he sent his forces to rise up against you and distract you from becoming who God called you to be? He knew when he whispered lies in your ear about yourself you would fall for it because you were not prepared. He knew he could come against your loved ones because you weren’t on the threshing floor like you used to be praying for their salvation.
He knew.
But guess what? God knows first and so God tries to warn you, “son, daughter get up and go in the ring prepared. With me, you can do all things.”
But the busyness of life seems to overwhelm us and before we know it we miss the warnings and we go to fight unprepared for the blows.
Today that doesn’t have to be the case for us. We can choose to come fired up in the ring against the enemy.
How do we come prepared?
We need to spend time with the father. It is in the secret place that God will reveal what the enemy is trying to do. He will open your spiritual eyes and ears leading you to proactive prayer and worship which will cause you to go into spiritual warfare and there you bind, rebuke, and cancel every high thing that exalts itself against God that is operating in your life.
Example: I bind and rebuke the spirit of heaviness off of me right now and I send it back to the lake of fire from whence it come.
“Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.” Matthew 12:29 KJV.
Next, loose declare, and decree the word of God.
Example: I loose the spirit of praise and declare that I am anxious for nothing. The Lord has not given me a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.
“Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established onto thee and the light shall shine upon thy ways.” Job 22:28 KJV.
Finally, go back into worship and thank God for breaking you free.
Your victory will always be determined by your actions. Continue to put in the work and you will see a different outcome.
All of heaven is rooting for you. You got this!!!
Be Encouraged,
Love Monica.
