Exercising Spiritual Warfare

Recently God has been showing me the importance of spiritual warfare on many different levels. I guess I used to just think that warfare was mostly praying, sometimes in a dramatic or commanding voice. But God is showing me that actions are just as important as spoken words. Anything we do to thwart the enemy and further God's kingdom is warfare. Sometimes it could be as simple as encouraging a friend, or sacrificing some time to help a person truly in need. I've learned lately that excercise, strenuous excercise even, is a powerful tool in spiritual warfare.

The enemy wants us unfit, tired and depressed, laying on our couches watching tv. He does not want us out and active and ready to fight! Walking, running, jogging, sports whatever...whenever I get off my lazy butt and do it, I'm fighting the enemy. He's still trying to get me to stop, whispering "you're tired, you should rest. You might hurt yourself, take it easy and work into it slowly. Have some chocolate, you've earned it."

Also, I believe, doing the thing that you yearn to do but scares the heck out of you is also HUGE spiritual warfare. God has created us all with unique abilities and destinies. The enemy does not want us to reach our potential. "You don't want to sing in public. What if you mess up and make a fool of yourself?" "Of course you've always wanted to run a marathon, but that's for really dedicated, exceptional people who can aquire a level of fitness you simply can't" "It's good to have a heart for the people of Mozambique, but just send some money. That will help a child, don't go there yourself and endanger your life, leave it to someone who is truly called to do it."

Lies lies lies! Don't listen to them! If there is something that has been at the back of your head and on your heart for a long time (and is keeping in line with the character of Christ) but there has always been an excuse or reason not too do it, I encourage you to push through those deceptions and move forward in warfare! Don your armor, raise your sword and leap forward with a battle cry!