Unseen Battles

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

— Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

We often hear people wonder - why do good people suffer bad things? 

​We often view our struggles—the anxiety, the sharp temptation, the persistent doubt, the relational friction—as purely internal or interpersonal problems. We fight against a bad mood, a difficult colleague, or a personal failure. But the Apostle Paul pulls back the curtain on reality, revealing that these surface battles are often just symptoms of a deeper, unseen warfare.

​You are a soldier in a spiritual war, whether you feel like one or not. The true enemy is not the person who angered you, nor is it the circumstance that caused you distress. The real enemy is the spiritual forces that seek to distract you, discourage you, and ultimately dismantle your faith. The target is your faith and the way is through your fear and temptation. 

​This truth is both sobering and empowering. Why? 

• ​Sobering: It reminds us that there is a strategic, intelligent foe actively working against our peace and purpose.

• ​Empowering: It shifts our focus from fighting symptoms to fighting the source. When you realize the battle is spiritual, you stop using fleshly weapons (anger, gossip, self-pity) and start using the only effective tools: spiritual weapons.

​Three Strategies for Spiritual Victory

​1. Know Your Enemy’s Strategy (The Lie)

​The primary weapon of the enemy is deception. He tries to make you believe lies about God, lies about yourself, and lies about your situation.

• ​Lies about God: "God isn't good. He has forgotten you. Your sin is too great for His grace."

• ​Lies about you: "You are worthless. You will never change. You are too weak to fight."

​Your Defense: The Truth of God's Word. When you are tempted to believe a lie, speak a corresponding truth. If you feel forgotten, recall: "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:8).

​2. Put on the Full Armor (Ephesians 6:13-17)

​Paul is insistent: we must be fully equipped. The armor is not optional; it is the provision Christ has given you for protection.

3. Fight from a Position of Victory (Intercession)

​Crucially, you are not fighting for victory; you are fighting from the victory already secured by Jesus Christ on the cross. Your power does not come from your strength, but from His.

​Paul concludes the armor passage with a call to prayer for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18). Intercession is how we deploy the spiritual weapons. When you pray, you are inviting the power of God into the unseen battle, and no spiritual force can stand against Him.

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Think about this: 

• ​What "flesh and blood" struggle in your life right now might actually be a symptom of a deeper spiritual battle?

• ​Which piece of the spiritual armor do you feel you need to intentionally "put on" today?

​Prayer

​Heavenly Father, thank You for opening my eyes to the reality of the spiritual war. Forgive me for trying to fight my battles in my own strength. I put on the full armor of God today. I take up the Shield of Faith to guard against the lies of the enemy, and I wield the Sword of the Spirit, which is Your Word. Strengthen me to stand firm in the victory Christ has already won, and help me to pray ceaselessly for others who are in the fight. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Standing on The Promises of God: Pastor Rajiv

 

Good Morning God!

Read Isiaah 44 6-8

I have a question today: if God was living with you or me, would we not say "Good morning" every day?

Francis Taylor points out certain truths viz our relationship with God. Commenting on the quoted passage she says -

"God is very definite in this passage from Isaiah. I am God and there is no other! I am the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega, as is written in the book of Revelation. Since we declare that we believe this, why do we insist on having other gods? Anything or anyone we put before God, including ourselves, we are making gods. Putting God first, means giving up some of our control and obeying his rules, and living as God wants us to live. This isn't the first time this message has come before us this year, but it bears repeating and reflecting upon once again. Where do we place God on a scale of 1 – 10 in the course of our day? Is God in your thoughts when you wake up? How many times do you think about God during the day while driving, working, reading, watching television? What about at night? Is God the last thing you think about at night as you reflect upon your day? How many times during the day do you say "thank you" for getting those green lights, finding a parking place, having the meeting go well? Or maybe you need to thank God that the person running the red light didn't hit you? Tomorrow, try saying good morning to God and ask him to be with you during the day. Then, look for God in the people and events during the day. Tomorrow night, think about your day, recognize the places where God was present and then say "good night." Repeat."

Francis Taylor

What she is saying is that God should be integrated into all aspects of life, not relegated to a Sunday-only activity.

He thus becomes a lifestyle rather than an event. The encouragement to say "thank you" for daily mercies (green lights, parking spots, safety) is a call to practice mindfulness and gratitude, recognizing God's hand in both the mundane and the profound.

We need to move from theological statement to practical devotional exercise, which is its greatest strength.

Ms Taylor establishes a non-negotiable truth using direct biblical reference: "I am God and there is no other! I am the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega." This declaration, pulling from both Isaiah and Revelation, emphasizes God's eternality and completeness. If this is true, it logically follows that nothing else can share that level of importance, not even ourselves, our jobs, our families or our possessions. Our pride lies in God, not in these things.

Making God and Jesus our lifestyle means transforming our faith from a belief system into a 24/7 reality. How can we do that?

• To start with, change morning routines. Before you check your phone or start your to-do list, offer a simple prayer: "Good morning, God. Be with me today and guide my steps."

• Focus on the Person of Jesus: The lifestyle isn't just about what you do; it's about becoming more like Christ. Study Jesus's life in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) and focus on His humility, compassion, and priorities.

Integrate God into Daily Rhythms

​This moves God from being a "Sunday event" to a continuous presence.

• ​Communion through Prayer (The Constant Conversation):

• ​Scheduled Time: Set aside dedicated, quiet time (even 5-10 minutes) each day for prayer and devotion. Be consistent.

• ​Spontaneous Prayer: This is key to lifestyle—talking to God while driving, cooking, waiting in line, or before a difficult meeting. The quote's reference to saying "thank you" for a parking spot is a perfect example.

• ​Meditation on Scripture (The Daily Bread):

• ​Read for Transformation, not just Information: Instead of speed-reading, take one verse or a short passage. Read it slowly, meditate on what it means, and ask, "How should this change how I live today?"

• ​Practical Tip: Use a Bible app to keep a verse or thought on your phone's home screen for a few hours.

Make Your Work and Activities Worship

​Your job, your hobbies, and your errands are all opportunities to express your faith.

• ​Excellence and Integrity: Do your work, chores, or studies with excellence, as if you are working directly for God, not just your boss or teacher (Colossians 3:23). This means being honest, diligent, and helpful.

• ​Attitude and Humility: In traffic, in frustrating situations, or during conflicts, actively try to display the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control - Galatians 5:22-23). This is where the rubber meets the road.

• ​The "Other Gods" Check: As the quote asks, constantly evaluate our priorities. If our pursuit of comfort, money, approval, or pleasure causes us to neglect our spiritual life or compromise our values, that's where we need to surrender control.

Making God and Jesus your lifestyle is about cultivating an active awareness of His presence and consciously choosing His way over your own, moment by moment. It's a journey of forming small, consistent habits that slowly shift your heart's greatest desire.