Choose your weapons wisely
The struggle is not against flesh and blood.
“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against ... the spiritual forces of evil.” Ephesians 6:12
The 8th-grade student asked to speak to me after class. He wept as he told me about the bullying his classmates had been subjecting him to. He was insistent that he didn’t want me to do anything to the bullies. He just wanted to talk about it.
I asked him what he intended to do. He had a plan: He had purchased a weightlifting set and intended to use it to build “muscles.” There was anger in his eyes as he told me he was going to get so strong they’d never bother him again.
I tried to steer him toward other ways of handling them, but he wouldn’t hear of it.
The boy’s reaction to his bullies reminded me of the way we often react to life’s struggles. We try to be bigger than our problems and tougher than our obstacles. We take on worldly battles with worldly weapons. Our problems set the ground rules, and we follow them blindly.
But Ephesians 6:12 tells us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against ... the spiritual forces of evil.” This means we don’t have to fight fire with fire. We can combat worldly conflicts with spiritual armaments like the whole armor of God of Ephesians 6: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer.
Ancient battles often ended with the loser on his knees. If we hope to be victorious, our own battles should start in the same position.
Graceful Contemplation
“Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones, and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.”
― Victor Hugo
Special Announcement
I’m thrilled to announce that I’m a contributor to a brand-new anthology of inspirational Christmas stories: A Holy City Christmas: Charleston Holiday Tales.
Christmas is always a magical time, but in Charleston, South Carolina, the holiday is extra special. This collection of short stories combines the festive joy of the holiday with the beauty of the Holy City.
My story is called “Nine O’Clock, December”: For 31 nights every December, the mysterious stranger appears in Jennie’s backyard and gazes into the harbor. Who is he? What is he seeking? As Jennie searches for his identity, she realizes she hasn't yet found her own.
You’ll love this book, and so will your friends and family. Best of all, your purchase will help others at Christmas time. All proceeds of 2024 sales will go to RISE, a Christian charity that supports men trapped in poverty, homelessness, or addiction.
Order or learn more about A Holy City Christmas by clicking the image below.
Thank you for reading!
September is in the books! It was such fun developing A Holy City Christmas with my ACFW friends! Next stop: Book 3 of the Shadow Point series — coming soon!
