Thus Far the Lord Has Helped Us

12/26/23 – 01/01/24

Faithful in Battle

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/29/23

We face an increasingly hostile enemy, dead-set on destroying our lives. Praise God that He is ready and willing to help us overcome!

Just as the Israelites faced the Philistines in battle thousands of years ago, we are facing our own enemies today. But for us, our enemies are not physical or visible. Instead, we face a threefold spiritual enemy: the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Today’s culture inundates us with temptations and worldly thinking that encourage us to be puffed up, to lust, to covet, and more. Our flesh relishes these sins, working to convince us that we don’t need God. And Satan conspires to use both the world and our flesh to thwart the work of God in our lives.

We must fight against our threefold enemy by remembering the faithfulness of God—filling our minds with the Truth of who God is and praying His great promises to us. At the same time, we must “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

As sin, pride, and self-sufficiency seek to pull us down, we must remember that confession, repentance, and humility toward God will bring victory every time. We cannot win this spiritual battle on our own—but “thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). If we press into God amidst the fight, He will ready our hearts, and a heart that is totally dedicated to Jesus Christ will always win the battle.

Prayer: Jesus, I praise You! You are my Savior. Through You, I can overcome. Give me strength by Your Spirit to persevere and to set my heart on You so that I may have victory over my threefold enemy. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“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).