Jehoshaphat’s Story – Some Battles We Might Face

Warning – this post is longer than my usual post length. So grab a cup of coffee ☕️ and get comfy…

We are continuing in Jehoshaphat’s story. Last week we talked about how the enemy comes against us, as children of God. However, we also talked about how we have Jesus on our side.

Today I wanted to touch on a few ways that we might see the enemy attack. Mainly I want to look at a few ways the enemy sneaks in and we don’t realize it’s him. As we walk through each one, take a look at your own life or the lives of your loved ones. Perhaps some of these scenarios will sound familiar, but you didn’t realize until now that it was a spiritual battle.

The Enemy Will Attack Our Minds

If you have ever struggled with depression, anxiety, fear, anger, pride, worry, defeat, unforgiveness, hatred, or any other negative emotion – this started in your mind. And while it is true that God has given us some of these emotions to be used wisely in certain situations, it is also true that these emotions can run rampant if we are not careful.

Mental health has become more and more of an issue in our world. No matter the age, race, or gender, this serious issue can affect so many. As Jennie Allen said, “The greatest spiritual battle of our generation is being fought between our ears.” [Get Out Of Your Head © 2020 by Jennie Allen]

Note: I do realize some of us will require medical help in the area of mental health. If that is you, that is okay. I am not undermining your situation. And I hope you don’t think I take it lightly.

However, I do believe that for many people out there, the battles that we face in the mind can be altered by the power of prayer and clinging to the truths found in the Bible. One of my favorite Bible verses touches on this subject. In 2 Corinthians 10:5. Paul tells us, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Taking every thought captive might sound easier said than done. We might have to take our thoughts captive over and over again.

Pastor Craig Groeschel said, “Our lives are always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts. What we think shapes who we are.” [Winning the War in Your Mind © 2021 by Craig Groeschel]

Looking at it from that perspective reveals to us how vital it is to take every thought captive. I believe prayer, Scripture, and gratitude have played a key role in my own life when it comes to the battle of the mind. (And in the coming weeks we will talk more about these practices, as well as other practices found in Jehoshaphat’s story, which will help with many of the battles we face.)

If this is something you struggle with, I pray you find peace as you run into the arms of Jesus.

The Enemy Will Distract Us

This is a topic I am passionate about, especially in our current culture. I am convinced that devices, social media, video games, and the like are some of the enemy’s best tools in our generation. Many people waste countless hours in a black hole. At traffic lights, in the post office, and at ball games, we see heads down and thumbs moving. Even at restaurants, grown adults are playing on their phones instead of visiting with the people sitting right in front of them.

I have a smartphone and I have a tablet. So I know firsthand that they are beneficial instruments. However, I also know firsthand how addictive they are. Personally, I have taken steps to limit time spent on things which I believe are a distraction and provide no lasting benefit. It takes discipline, but it is possible.

However, please note that the enemy can use a myriad of other things to distract us. As I mentioned before, the enemy is sneaky. He can even use something exceptionally good to distract us. Some things in our lives are really good things. Yet too much of a good thing can distract us from the One we need to spend time with the most. And good things can also take away our focus from those who are sitting right in front of us.

Let us seek God in prayer and ask Him to reveal anything in our lives that needs to go and anything that keeps us from having the best relationship with Him.

The Enemy Will Make Us Think Our Value Comes From Our Performance

In our culture, we tend to keep going and going until we have reached exhaustion. We add more onto our plates at home, at work, or at church. We think if we can just get it all done, then this will prove our worth.

Do you remember the Martha and Mary story found in Luke 10:38-42? Martha and Mary were sisters, and Jesus was visiting with them on one particular occasion. Martha was running around tending to preparations while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. Martha complained about her sister not helping. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (v 41-42).

Martha was trying to perform, trying to get it all done. And perhaps she thought that all of her endeavors around the house would prove her worth. But if we are honest, are we any different? Our culture seems to shout that we have to do more in order to be valuable.

Renee Swope puts it this way, “We live in a culture filled with messaging that tells us our productivity proves our worth. And it is a lie from the pit of hell that is wreaking havoc on our mental health, our physical and spiritual well-being, our youth, and our families. We have got to recognize this underlying belief that has too much power and influence over our decisions and in the direction of our lives.” [A Confident Mom © 2022 by Renee Swope]

Friend, please remember that your value doesn’t come from what you do at work or at home. It doesn’t come from keeping a tidy house or getting good grades. It doesn’t come from being a super parent or someone well-respected in your field of work.

Your value and your identity are found in Jesus. Your relationship with Him is what makes you valuable. You are clothed in righteousness. You are a new creation. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

The Enemy Will Keep Us Busy

This is another topic that I am passionate about. But it also can be tied to the previous two topics. So I won’t say too much here. However, I do believe busyness is the enemy of living out our Christian lives.

How can we love others, when we are in a hurry and always focused on our to-do lists? When we slow down, and eliminate unnecessary tasks from our lives, we have margin to be present to those around us.

How can we grow in our spiritual lives when our plates are so full that we push our time with God to the back burner? Usually when we are busy, our prayer time and Bible reading are the first things to go. But that is when we need them the most. As Martin Luther said, “I am so busy now that if I did not spend three hours each day in prayer, I could not get through the day.”

Our pressures cause us to hurry through a busy life. Learning to let go and lean on God will do wonders for our souls.

The Enemy Will Cause Conflict In Our Relationships

Take a look around at the people in our world. Families, friends, coworkers, fellow citizens, fellow Christians. Everywhere we turn, we see conflict. It seems to get worse and worse in our culture. Instead of spreading the light and love of Jesus, we are easily offended and writing each other off. Forgiving others, even for the smallest offense, appears to be a radical concept these days.

But in Matthew 18:21-22, Jesus commands us to forgive our brethren: “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’”

It is heartbreaking to know that each time we get hurt, and as a result refuse to forgive someone, this pleases the enemy. He knows that keeping bitterness in our hearts will hold us back. If we do not forgive others, and instead hold a grudge, we are building a wall around our hearts. This will influence other areas of our lives, including our relationship with God.

In his aptly titled book, The Bait of Satan, John Bevere says, “The issue of offense … is often the most difficult obstacle an individual must face and overcome.” [© 1994, 1997, 2004, 2014 by John Bevere]

When we look at the world around us, it can be discouraging to see how relationships are being torn apart. While we can’t control the world, we can control our own attitudes in this area. When we remember that the enemy is the one who is trying to put a wedge between us and our loved ones, this helps us to proceed in love and peace.

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” – Romans 12:18 NIV

We could talk all day about the ways the enemy might attack us. But, alas, I have nearly 1900 words in this post! 😬 If you are still reading, then I thank you for sticking with me! 😅

I only scraped the surface here. Other ways could include health, finances, temptation, and so much more. However, sometimes those battles are more obvious. Therefore, in this post I tried to touch on ways that the enemy sneaks into our lives and we don’t realize it’s him.

It’s important for Christians to remember that we have an adversary who is constantly against us. But we don’t have to allow him to have full control of our lives. Knowledge is power. The mere fact that we know his tactics will help us to be better prepared when he attacks. In the coming weeks, we will continue to uncover the story of King Jehoshaphat. And we will explore some key steps that the king and the nation of Judah took when an army was coming against them. I pray we too can learn ways to stand strong against the enemy’s attacks, as we lean on the Lord and His strength. With God by our sides, we can move the mountains that come against us.

© 2018-2023 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.