You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet.

~Psalm 18:39 NLT

Not all battles use guns, tanks, planes, and ships.

John* was accustomed to the oxygen machine snuggled in the pouch hanging around his neck. And he was also used to the apparatus under his nose and the long cumbersome line he had to manage as he walked around. What he hadn’t planned on was a stint in the hospital or a long recuperation period where he was confined to his home.

Flu season was bad this particular winter, and although John didn’t get the flu, he did get bronchitis and pneumonia—courtesy of his COPD. Doctors thought one round in the hospital was enough, but it wasn’t. John wound up there again, and when he finally came home, he did so with home health care coming to visit him several times a week, along with a therapist.

John and his wife were regular churchgoers, but this episode took them away for almost two months. Although the battle was tough—and John had periods when they worried whether or not he was going to make it—John fought like a trooper. Everyone smiled and greeted him and his wife warmly when they finally returned to the church. While he fought his battle, church members sent him cards and food and called regularly to check on them. John was ready, no matter how the battle ended.

God provides spiritual armor for the spiritual battles we fight with temptation: the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the shoes of peace. #VineWords #SpiritualWarfare… Click To Tweet

My grandmother, on the other hand, worried a little more than John. Until she got older, she never worried about her health. But when she began to feel the effects of aging, she convinced herself she had cancer. She had no signs—and tests showed nothing—but she just knew she was dying with cancer. She didn’t. She died of effects related to Alzheimer’s. She also wasn’t convinced she was armed for the battle against what she only had in her mind.

I’ve been in similar battles as my grandmother. Periods when I convinced myself I had some awful disease the doctors hadn’t discovered. Or when I felt a little twinge in my chest and thought a heart attack was imminent. I saw others fight terrible physical battles—and wondered if I could do the same. At other times, my emotions traveled to forbidden areas—and sometimes my feet followed.

David’s battles were physical, emotional, and warlike, but God armed him for them all. As He does every one of His followers.

God provides spiritual armor for the spiritual battles we fight with temptation: the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the shoes of peace.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one, And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

~Ephesians 6:13-18 NKJV

He gives us the mind of Christ so we can control the emotions that would lead us down destructive pathways. And He gives us amazing bodies that are created in such a way they can ward off many physical attacks and can be worked on by doctors who can remove, exchange, or juggle around parts.

Regardless of the nature of the battle, God provides what we need to fight it. Look to Him when your fight comes.

Thank You, Jesus, that You equip me to fight earthly battles and win because of Your authority. You are the same now as You ever were, and I fully rely on You.

Copyright 2020: Armed for Battle: Author Martin Wiles: All Rights Reserved

Meet Our Contributor 

MARTIN WILES

Martin Wiles is an author, English teacher, and freelance editor who resides in Greenwood, South Carolina. He is the founder and editor of Love Lines from God. Wiles is the Managing Editor for Christian Devotions, the Senior Editor for Inspire a Fire, and a Proof Editor for Courier Publishing. He has also served as Web Content Editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.

Wiles has authored A Whisper in the Wood: Quiet Escapes in a Noisy World (Ambassador International), Grits & Grace & God and
Grits, Gumbo, and Going to Church (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas), Morning By Morning, Morning Serenity, and Grace Greater Than Sin (America Star Books) and is a contributing author in Penned from the Heart (Son-Rise Publications), Rise (Chaplain Publishing), and Love Knots: Stories of Faith, Family, and Friendships (VineWords Publishing).

He has served as Regional Correspondent and Sunday school lesson writer for the
Baptist Courier and has also written for Lifeway’s Bible Studies for Life curriculum. He has also been published in Christian Living in the Mature Years, Mature Living, Open Windows, Proclaim, The Secret Place, The Word in Season, Upper Room, Light from the Word, Reach Out Columbia, Mustard Seed Ministries, Journey Christian Newspaper, Common Ground Herald, The Quiet Hour, Power for Living, Halo Magazine, Joyful Living Magazine, Christian Broadcasting Network, Sharing, Today’s Christian Living, These Days, Plum Tree Tavern, Eskimo Pie, The Scarlet Leaf Review, Creation Illustrated, LIVE, Purpose Magazine, Stand Firm, The Banner, Relevant, and Lutheran Digest.

He is a regular contributor to Christian Devotions, PCC Daily Devotions, Theology Mix, Inspire a Fire, The Write Conversation, and Vine Words and is a regular writer for the Dorchester County Eagle Record, the Orangeburg
County Times and Democrat, and the Greenwood County Index Journal.

Wiles’ next book, Don’t Just Live…Really Live is under contract with Ambassador International.

CONNECT WITH MARTIN WILES AT:

Managing Editor, Christian Devotions

Senior Editor, Inspire a Fire

Proof Editor, Courier Publishing

Author, A Whisper in the Woods, Grits, Gumbo, and Going to Church and Grits, Grace, and God.

On The Web: Love Lines From God

BOOK LINKS:

Grits, Gumbo, and Going to Church https://www.amazon.com/Grits-Gumbo-Going-Church-Martin/dp/1798510375

Grits & Grace and God https://www.amazon.com/Grits-Grace-God-Heaven-Southern/dp/1645261379

A Whisper in the Woods: Quiet Escapes in a Noisy World https://www.amazon.com/Whisper-Woods-Quiet-Escapes-Noisy/dp/1620208652