Life can feel overwhelming at times. You’re running late for work, fighting with your spouse, or facing unexpected challenges that seem to come from nowhere. While some of these situations have natural explanations, others might be part of something deeper – spiritual warfare. Understanding how to be “battle ready” as a Christian isn’t about living in fear, but about standing confidently in the victory Christ has already won.

What Is Spiritual Warfare?

Spiritual warfare is real, but it’s not always what we think it is. Sometimes we give the devil credit for things he’s not doing, and other times we miss his actual attacks entirely.

When Life Gets Complicated

Running late for work could be spiritual warfare – perhaps the enemy is trying to sabotage your interactions with coworkers or prevent a divine appointment God has planned. But it could also simply be the natural consequence of staying up late and not setting your alarm.

Fighting with your spouse might be a spiritual attack, especially if your godly marriage is causing others to examine their own relationships. However, it could also be the result of selfishness and not following biblical principles like husbands loving their wives as Christ loved the church, or wives respecting their husbands.

Losing your job could mean the enemy is trying to remove you from a position of influence where you’re bringing the kingdom of God to your workplace. Or it could simply mean you weren’t performing well as an employee.

How to Discern What’s Really Happening

The key question to ask is: Does this situation move me toward Jesus or away from Him? Does it bring peace or fear? Does it produce life or despair? Does it remind me that God is in control, or does it make life feel chaotic?

When it’s the enemy or our own flesh, situations typically move us toward condemnation, brokenness without hope, helplessness, despair, and anxiety. This is because Satan is fundamentally a liar and deceiver who doesn’t want us drawing closer to Jesus.

Testing the Spirits

Not every supernatural occurrence comes from God. The Bible warns us that the enemy can perform miracles, signs, and wonders too. 1 John 4:1-3 instructs us to test the spirits: “Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.”

We can’t assume something is from God just because it seems miraculous or supernatural. We must always test everything against Scripture and the character of Christ.

The Full Armor of God

Ephesians 6:11-18 describes the spiritual armor every Christian needs to wear daily. This isn’t a one-time decision but a daily discipline of staying battle-ready.

The Belt of Truth

Truth serves as our foundation, holding everything else together. This means both embracing God’s truth and honestly examining our lives. We must ask ourselves: Are there areas where I’m giving the enemy access? Am I walking in darkness in any area of my life?

Common areas that give the enemy access include unforgiveness, bitterness, consuming inappropriate media, or dabbling in occult practices. As Jesus said in John 8:32, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The Breastplate of Righteousness

This protects our heart – not just emotionally, but our very soul and life. The enemy wants to destroy us, but if he can’t, he’ll settle for wounding and weakening us.

Crucially, this isn’t our own righteousness, which Isaiah 64:6 describes as “filthy rags.” Our righteousness comes from Christ alone. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains, “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we become the righteousness of God.”

The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

We carry peace and good news wherever we go. When we walk into a room, people should sense that a Christian has arrived – someone bringing hope, love, and the gospel.

Too often, Christians are known for what we’re against rather than what we’re for. Our primary business is saving souls and inviting people into God’s kingdom, telling them they can come just as they are.

The Shield of Faith

When the enemy fires arrows of lies and attacks, we hide behind our shield of faith – not faith in faith itself, but faith in Jesus Christ. This is where memorizing Scripture becomes crucial.

Galatians 2:20 is a powerful verse to hide behind: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”

The Helmet of Salvation

This protects our mind, which needs constant renewal. As we grow in Christ, we often become more aware of our sinfulness. The enemy tries to use this awareness to condemn us, but we must remind ourselves of our salvation in Christ.

When the enemy reminds us of our past, we remind him of his future. We are in Christ, saved and secure.

The Sword of the Spirit

The Word of God is our offensive weapon. We must consistently read Scripture, allowing it to examine us rather than trying to make it say what we want to hear.

The Bible is both medicine and amputation – it heals and wounds, comforts and corrects. It guides us in the most important areas of life: how to treat others, manage finances, and live according to God’s will.

Prayer in the Spirit

Undergirding all the armor is constant prayer according to the Spirit’s will. We trust the Spirit to lead, guide, protect, and deliver us in every situation.

Fighting From Victory, Not For Victory

The most important truth about spiritual warfare is that we’re not fighting for victory – we’re fighting from victory. Jesus has already won the battle. We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.

This changes everything about how we approach spiritual warfare. We’re not trying to muster up strength or make something happen. We’re standing confidently in what Christ has already accomplished.

Life Application

This week, commit to putting on the full armor of God each day before you leave your house. Make it a daily discipline, not a one-time decision. Start each morning by consciously putting on truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and taking up God’s Word.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Are there areas in my life where I might be giving the enemy access through unforgiveness, inappropriate media, or other compromises?
• When challenges arise, am I asking whether they move me toward Jesus or away from Him?
• Am I fighting from a place of victory in Christ, or am I trying to earn victory through my own efforts?
• How can I better carry the gospel of peace into every room I enter this week?

Remember, being battle ready isn’t about living in fear of what might come, but standing in faith in what Jesus has already done. You are equipped, protected, and victorious in Christ.