The Unseen Struggle

Though Paul talks about this topic in greater detail in other letters that he writes, here in 2 Corinthians 10 he reminds his readers that there is a struggle, the most important struggle, that is not visible. Here is what he writes in verses 3 and 4: 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, “Walking in the flesh” is simply a phrase which describes human life. We walk, or live, in the flesh, in bodies on earth. That is the way that we live. However, we do not primarily struggle or “war” in the flesh. There is an unseen struggle, a spiritual struggle that has nothing to do with our physical bodies or the things of this world. There is a battle for the mind going on in a spiritual realm that we cannot see though it has great impact in our lives. The weapons of this warfare or struggle are not will power or human perseverance. The weapons of this warfare are spiritual…prayer…dependence on God, scripture, community, meditation. There is demonic and angelic activity going on all around us, though we cannot see it. This struggle means much more than the physical struggle we can see. Is it not true that the “battle is won and lost in the mind”? Temptation comes into our lives and what enables us to resist…biceps?…our bank account?…our height?…our job? No, those things are useless in the unseen struggle. Rather, our weapons against temptation are prayer and faith and hope, etc…

What’s your “arsenal” of spiritual weapons like? Is it full or empty? Fill your life with the things mentioned above so you will be strong and able to win the unseen struggles of life.