Spiritual Warfare

Some may know all too well about this subject, and some may not even recognize that it's happening when it is. I just wanted to share a little something with you. Ephesians 6:12 says "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." I would say for the past couple weeks I had been feeling spiritually oppressed...Satan had me believing that I would never know anything, that it was pointless to keep studying the Word because it would never be enough to be useful. He also had me doubting my salvation...I cannot give you an exact date and time when I was saved; I can give you a series of events leading up to when He opened my eyes and I cried out to the Lord to save me...but that's a whole other post, maybe. But, because I could not give a date or time I was believing that I may not be saved. On Monday night the gentleman who is discipling Aaron came over, and we had a good time studying the Bible and learning. However, not long after he left it was as if everything shifted. I can't really explain it, but Aaron and I both went from being excited about being in the Word and learning to...questioning our salvation, oppressed by guilt of past sin that HAD been confessed and forgiven, and feeling like we were completely distant from God. Unfortunately, Aaron was hit harder than I was...but it was still hard for both of us none the less. Aaron didn't sleep well that night and woke up feeling quite the same as he did the night before. I was still feeling uneasy and was mentally going through the things we talked about the night before. Aaron went to work, and I got ready to go myself. We had both prayed over this situation the night before; however, more prayer was needed. I got on my knees and cried out to God to walk us through this, to grow us through this. He has given us His Word so that we might know His truths...one of which is the assurance of salvation. 1 John is commonly used for assurance of salvation. The Lord allows things in our life so that we might grow in faith and in the image of Christ. After praying I got up and it was as if the burden had been lifted. I had given it to Him because I knew that I could not...I could not fight without His strength. Ephesians 6:10 - 18 tells us: "10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16in addition to all, TAKING UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the word of God. 18With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints," (NASB)

With the Lord's strength we are able to fight.