When it comes to Spiritual Warfare.

 One of the greatest tactics of the enemy is to disguise spiritual warfare as ordinary life struggles. 

The reason SO MANY today are struggling is because they don’t understand, or can’t see battles for what they truly are….

Spiritual Warfare is not like what we see in movies or what we think happens in a haunted house. 

It can manifest in seemingly ordinary situations, but the enemy may try to convince us that it's just "normal."

Here are some real-life examples:

#1 - Instead of holding onto grudges and misunderstandings with family, friends, or coworkers as NORMAL... We are called offer forgiveness and understanding. 

Ephesians 4:32, which says, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

#2 -We start to believe that Struggles with debt, job loss, or unexpected expenses is just NORMAL and living paycheck to paycheck is just how it’s supposed to be…instead of having humility, working hard, and learning to manage our money well and be generous ! One of my favorite Dave Ramsey Quotes is, “If we will live like no one else NOW,(Budgeting, Saving, getting out of debt) we can LIVE like no one else Later! “ By the way, I've never seen anyone walk in financial freedom and who did not surrender their finances to Jesus! 

Proverbs 21:20 - "Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it." 

Proverbs 3:9-10 says, "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine."

 #3 -Instead of accepting worry and anxiety as something normal, we should cast our cares onto Jesus. 

1 Peter 5:7, which says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

 #4 -Instead of living a life full of busyness and distraction…We Overcommitment, we have an lack of focus, and we are consistently on some form of technology (Social Media) or entertainment(TV, Video game, computer)..we should prioritize real connections with our family and be present in the moment. (by the way, if you want to live with DEEP regret later, keep staring at a screen and ignoring your wife and children)

Psalm 46:10 to "Be still, and know that I am God."

 #5 - Instead of acting like self-doubt and low self-esteem are a virtue...  we should step forward and lead as we are called to. 

Philippians 4:13 reminds us that "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

#6 - Instead of giving in to desires and habits that lead us away from our relationship with Jesus, we should repent and live in freedom. (Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you)

Romans 6:18 says, "And, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness."

#7 - Instead of feeling disconnected from community and support systems, we should make community a priority, especially with family and our church.

Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us to "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another."

#8 - Instead of settling for apathy towards faith, spiritual growth, and worship, we should give everything to Jesus and chase after His calling for us. Jesus is worthy of our Worship!

 Colossians 3:23-24 says, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

#9 - Instead of allowing our pain and past to define us, we should seek help and healing.

Psalm 147:3 assures us that "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

These struggles can often appear as typical challenges but they can have deeper spiritual implications that require discernment and spiritual responses. See Ephesians 6:12

We NEED the Holy Spirit to help us SEE what may seem normal to us, but is actually an attack! See John 14:26 

Another layer of this is that once we recognize the attack we have to actually deal with it….. Dysfunction evolves into normal with time.

If we refuse to deal with these dysfunctions NOW, it will be something we pass on to the next generation!

I think this the devils FAVORITE trick!

...He likes to send the attack, and then he figures out how to get us to keep perpetuating the attack for him over and over…

The fact is that some entire generations of families are dealing with an attack from the enemy YEARS ago…All he had to  do was drop the bomb and walk away, and because, nobody could recognize the attack for what it was...the pattern just keeps repeating it’s self! See Exodus 20:5-6

One of my wife's(Cara) favorite quotes is “It ran into my family, until it ran into me”

We have the power through Jesus to fight back and break the patterns of dysfunction. We can STOP the very thing that has plagued our families for generations…

Alcoholism does not get to be normal here anymore…

Depression and worry does not get to be normal here anymore…

Sickness from unhealthy eating and being obese…Not here, not anymore…

Abuse, and yelling, and fighting…Not anymore! 

You are the one, your future family has been waiting on! 

Let’s start fighting back! We have EVERYTHING we need according to Philippians 4:13 "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

Let's be aware of areas in our lives that may seem NORMAL but where the Holy Spirit is calling us to change. 

By relying on God's guidance and living according to His Word, we can overcome spiritual warfare and live a life that glorifies Him.