We reside in a religious realm. Many instances, what we think about fleshly battles with different individuals or circumstances could actually be a full-on assault from the religious forces of evil within the heavenly locations.
Ephesians 6:11-12 instructs believers: “Placed on the total armor of God, so that you could take your stand in opposition to the satan’s schemes. For our wrestle is just not in opposition to flesh and blood, however in opposition to the rulers, in opposition to the authorities, in opposition to the powers of this darkish world and in opposition to the religious forces of evil within the heavenly realms” (NIV).
It’s fascinating that Ephesians 6 tells us to placed on the “full armor of God” in order that we will face up to religious assaults, after which each piece of armor listed in verses 14-17 refers back to the Particular person of Jesus. That passage is mainly telling us to dress ourselves in Christ – to bear His fact and righteousness, train religion in Him, yield His Phrase as our sword, and belief in Him as our salvation. In different phrases, abiding in Christ, and worshipping Him is our full protection in opposition to Devil’s assaults.
Listed below are 5 methods to placed on the total armor of God and worship Him as your weapon in opposition to religious assaults:
1. Say the identify of Jesus.
Ephesians 6:17 tells us the “armor of God” contains “the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the phrase of God.” Ephesians 4:12 says “Salvation is present in [Jesus and] nobody else, for there is no such thing as a different identify beneath heaven given to mankind by which we have to be saved.” Moreover, Scripture tells us the phrase of God was made manifest in Jesus (John 1:1,14). Merely put, there may be energy within the identify of Jesus. So incorporate that energy not simply by ending your prayers with the phrases “In Jesus’ identify,” however begin praising Jesus and Who He’s to remind your self (and the religious forces of darkness) of the ability in that identify. For instance, pray: “Jesus, You might be extra highly effective than my enemy.” “Jesus, when You might be for me, who could be in opposition to me?” (Romans 8:31) “Jesus, Your identify is above each identify in heaven and earth” (Ephesians 1:21). “Jesus, You may have all authority” (Matthew 28:18).
Once you say His identify aloud, by means of reward or a name for assist, you might be enlisting all of heaven’s armies, which reply to the beck and name of Jesus and His liked ones (Psalm 18:6-19, Romans 10:13).
2. Preserve a coronary heart of reward.
First Thessalonians 5:18 exhorts us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for that is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” To present thanks in all circumstances means to reward and thank Him within the midst of disappointment, within the midst of heartache, within the midst of ache. As these are sometimes instances once we are at our weakest, and most vulnerable to religious assault, your praise-in-all-things mentality simply could keep off the enemy’s assaults within the first place.
However in case you’re like Job, and also you’re being attacked despite your upright dwelling, then obey 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and thank Him that He’s stronger than any forces that can ever come in opposition to you. Thank Him for a way the trial or assault is creating you spiritually and perfecting and maturing your religion (James 1:2-4). As you retain a coronary heart of reward, which is the essence of worship, you might be abiding in Him. Psalm 22:3 says God inhabits the praises of His individuals or is enthroned in our praises. When God is inhabiting the individual of reward, Devil’s assaults can irritate however not penetrate. Preserve your coronary heart and thoughts set on thanking Him and you can be wielding religious assault with a weapon of reward.
3. Sing the Scriptures.
One factor I really like concerning the previous hymns and even among the newer modern worship music is that a lot of them comprise direct quotations from Scripture which make them simpler to memorize and recite. All of Scripture’s Psalms (which accurately imply “songs”) have been initially set to music and meant to be sung. Compose your personal tune in your head as you sing the Bible’s Psalms aloud or sing some Psalms or New Testomony passages which have been set to music by Nineteenth-century composers or modern music artists.
As you sing the scriptures you remind your self of who you might be in God’s eyes. For instance, you might be His beloved (Jeremiah 31:3), you might be His pal (John 15:13-15), you might be His adopted little one (Romans 8:15), you might be “His masterpiece” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). Once you quote scripture again to Devil, he is aware of that scripture, and he trembles – and backs off – on the energy of the written phrase of God.
4. Pray Scripture aloud.
We have a tendency to consider worship as singing or another type of reward, however worship additionally entails prayer, studying the Phrase, quiet admiration of and reflection on God, and specializing in His worthiness. The truth is, consider worship as a give attention to God’s “worth-ship.”
I’ve discovered Psalm 145 notably efficient for instructing younger believers the way to pray by means of Scripture. Learn every verse aloud, then paraphrase it and personalize it in a prayer again to God. For instance, Psalm 145:8 reads: “The Lord is gracious and compassionate; Gradual to anger and nice in mercy” (NASB). Pray that again to God by personalizing it: “Lord, You might be gracious and compassionate. Thank You for being sluggish to anger and nice in mercy with regards to Your love towards me. I do know I can deliver something to You.”
By personalizing the Phrase to your life and conditions, protecting God’s attributes and the reality of Who He’s intact in your prayer, you might be making use of Scripture to your on a regular basis life. That’s what it means to hope Scripture over your state of affairs and to make use of it as a weapon in religious assault.
5. Keep in mind Who has the ability and authority.
If you happen to discovered in Sunday Faculty or imagine in the present day that God and Devil are equals, that could be a lie. Devil is a created being, a fallen angel, one who continues to be topic to God’s authority and judgment. Devil’s assaults are nothing in comparison with the Almighty all-powerful eternal God who was not created however created all issues. The battle – and any battle of yours – really belongs to the Lord (Proverbs 21:31). First John 4:4 tells us higher is He who’s in you (Christ Jesus), than he who’s on the earth (Devil and his minions). Romans 8:31 asks the rhetorical query: “If God is for us, who could be in opposition to us?” These verses construct our religion within the One who has absolute energy and authority.
Religious assaults typically come once we are already feeling defeated — or once we imagine we might by no means be defeated. Provide yourself with protection in opposition to satisfaction and a perception that you’re above assault by reminding your self of God’s authority and skill, not your personal. Humble your self earlier than the Lord (James 4:10) and depend upon His energy to get you thru.
Based on Ephesians 1:20-23, God raised Jesus from the lifeless and “seated him at his proper hand within the heavenly locations, far above all rule and authority and energy and dominion, and above each identify that’s named, not solely on this age but in addition within the one to return. And he put all issues beneath his toes and gave him as head over all issues to the church, which is his physique, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Jesus, Himself mentioned in Matthew 28:18: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Reward Him for that authority, name upon Him and His authority, and understand the authority you’ve got, in Him, as believers. Once you worship and keep in mind Christ’s authority, you might be additionally reminding your self and Devil of Devil’s imminent defeat.
For extra on abiding in Christ so you may face up to religious assault, see Cindi’s books, Ladies on the Edge and When a Girl Overcomes Life’s Hurts.
For additional studying, see 8 Methods Reward Delivers You from Evil.
Photograph Credit score: ©iStock/Getty Photographs Plus/Sakorn Sukkasemsakorn
Initially printed June 26, 2025.
