"I never understood the meaning and impact of spiritual warfare until I went through it myself."
For years, I treated "spiritual warfare" as a theological concept or an overspiritualised version of a horror film. But there is an emotional difference between knowing the definition of a battle and feeling the weight of the call to ministry, that the enemy is hellbent on stopping, or living the life of a believer whose mission is to share the gospel and make disciples of all nations.
When you are in the thick of it, spiritual warfare doesn't always look like a dramatic standoff with someone you have a conflict or a dispute with. Many times, it feels like:
Unexplained exhaustion (mentally, physically or emotionally) that targets your time with God or ministry work.
A loss of confidence right on the doorstep of a breakthrough.
Mental fog and confusion that clouds your decision-making process or sense of direction when it comes to your calling.
In ministry, the enemy rarely attacks your gifts; instead, he attacks your peace of mind and your perspective. He knows that if he can’t stop the work you’re doing, he’ll try to poison the spirit in which you do it.
Going through warfare changes how you lead. You stop relying on your own willpower and start leaning entirely on the Holy Spirit. You begin to realise that our "weapons" aren't clever strategies or louder voices. Instead, they are:
Humility: recognising that your ability to handle warfare comes from God, not your own strength, or that your wisdom is limited, which creates space for His power to show up.
Prayer & Intercession: This is not just a ritual, but a direct line to God that addresses your needs while shifting the burden from your shoulders to His.
Studying the Word: When you approach scripture for yourself with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you will receive spiritual insight that helps you navigate the good, bad and ugly.
If you are feeling a resistance you can’t quite explain today, take heart. The intensity of the opposition is often a sign of the significance of your assignment. You aren't losing; you are being trained.
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does." — 2 Corinthians 10:3