Understanding Spiritual Warfare: A Christian Counselor’s Perspective

Spiritual forces of evil are masters of deception. They can masquerade as anything that seems good, appealing, or even “enlightened, ” making it hard to discern their true nature.

Spiritual warfare is a biblical concept describing the battle against spiritual forces of evil, which are God’s enemies. God is spirit, and so is his enemy. This is why we need to understand that most of our battles in life are not physical but spiritual. As believers, being on guard and ready to resist and overcome negative spiritual influences is part of putting on spiritual armor in our lives.

Due to a lack of knowledge about spiritual matters, the battle we must engage in is often misunderstood. We are made in God’s image. Therefore, we are doing this because of a lack of knowledge. Because we bear God’s image, we are inherently valued by Him. However, this value makes us targets for the spiritual forces of evil. The enemy, Satan, seeks to distort, deface, and ultimately destroy the image of God in humanity. He understands that if he can corrupt God’s creation, he can undermine God’s glory.

Recognizing the Signs:

Spiritual warfare reveals itself through the enemy’s persistent efforts to undermine our God-given nature. He tempts us to twist our reason into prideful arrogance, stifles our creativity by urging us toward selfish pursuits, attacks our moral compass to lead us into sin, and seeks to sever our connection with God, leaving us in spiritual isolation. Recognizing these tactics is crucial, signaling a spiritual battle and compelling us to arm ourselves with biblical wisdom and tools.

Why Does Spiritual Warfare Happen?

At the heart of this spiritual warfare is to attack God’s very purpose for humanity. We were created to have dominion over all of creation and reflect His glory, yet he successfully tempted us to abuse creation and glorify ourselves rather than our Creator. This battle isn’t primarily about our physical comfort; it’s a war for our souls. Our spiritual enemy aims to sever our connection with God, lure us into sin, and ultimately destroy us. Recognizing that we are God’s representatives on earth, the enemy launches these attacks to undermine God’s kingdom and purpose.

Navigating the Battle:

It’s vital to discern genuine spiritual warfare from other trials. Not every hardship is a demonic attack; sometimes, it’s God’s refining process or the result of our actions. However, when facing genuine spiritual warfare, double down on your joy and peace in the Lord, recognizing that adversity often precedes significant blessings. Know that intense challenges may indicate you’re making a difference for God’s kingdom and are on the verge of a breakthrough.

The Weapons of Our Warfare:

Spiritual warfare is not fought with physical weapons but with the power of God. As 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 states, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” Our primary weapons are prayer and the Word of God. Those are the primary weapons of our warfare. The Holy Spirit guides us, enabling us to become mature Christian warriors.

Battles for the Mind:

A significant aspect of spiritual warfare is the battle for our minds. Satan aims to distract us from God’s truth, causing doubt and division. To protect our minds, we must recognize the enemy’s goals to increase worry and fear, then understand what personal attacks can be defended by utilizing God’s spiritual armor. As Ephesians 6:14-17 details, this armor includes truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.

Taking Thoughts Captive:

We must “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Philippians 4:8 provides a guide for evaluating our thoughts: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Fill your mind with Scripture, memorize verses, and recite them when battling negative thoughts.

Healing and Reconciliation:

Ultimately, spiritual warfare is an opportunity for healing and reconciliation. Our goal is to reclaim souls, not annihilate them. As healers, we seek to bring those in battle to a reconciliation with God. Even when direct healing is impossible, we aim to contain the spread of evil.

Trusting in God’s Strength:

Remember, we are strengthened by God, not ourselves. “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). Trust in His power and goodness to see you through every spiritual battle. Understanding and utilizing God’s tools, we can navigate spiritual warfare with resilience and faith.

Reading the Bible daily is a great way to grow in your faith and improve your mental health.

Daily Bible reading for mental health fosters faith and improves overall well-being. Integrating faith and mental health can help you find lasting peace and strength. If you are looking for faith-based mental health support, reach out to a professional who can help you understand Bible verses for anxiety relief, depression, grief and loss, and OCD.