It is written: (Ephesians 6:11) Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the devil’s strategies. For our struggle is not against a human opponent, but against rulers, against authorities, against cosmic powers in the darkness around us, against evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm. For this reason, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to take a stand in that evil day. And when you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand firm.
in fact the whole paragraph is talking about the armor of God, it consist of truth, righteousness, readyness, faith, sword of the Spirit and pray in the Spirit. All these are from the scriptures. But many of God’s children failed to spend hours everyday in reading and meditating the Word of God. Thus they do not put on the armor of God, because their focus is on the physical not spiritual. The result is always trapped by the devil without even knowing it.
Examples
For example, we wake up in the morning then comes temptation of feeling tired and so don’t want to pray or read any scriptures. But if someone knows the scripture well he would say, “it is written: (Psalms 5:3) In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.” So he will pray, in this way he defeated the devil’s strategy this time.
These type of temptation happens in our mind, we see in Matthew chapter 4 about the temptation of Jesus. The tempter is not a physical being that can be seen by our eyes, as it is in the spiritual world. The conversations between the tempter and Jesus are in the form of meditation or silent prayer.
Against the flesh
Temptation can come through our flesh. Such as our desire for something, so we may ask the Lord for them, instead of the daily bread for spiritual need. But those who know the Word would remember Jesus said: (Matthew 6:31-34) Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
If he remember Jesus’ word: (Matthew 12:50) For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” Then he would want to make sue of doing our Father’s will, and would pray something similar to this psalm (143:7-10),
Answer me quickly, O LORD, my spirit fails; Do not hide Your face from me, Or I will become like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul. Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; I take refuge in You. Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Thus, he can defeat devil’s attempt of moving him away from doing God’s will. However, those don’t care about God’s will may pray differently. In fact, they may not realize they have been trapped by the devil. Beware, there also wolf in sheep’s clothing who hate doing God’s will. Their sole purpose is to trick God’s people away from our Father’s will.
Everyday there many ideas and thoughts come into our mind, some from the flesh, some from the devil some may come from the Spirit. If we are not familiar with the scripture, then it would be extreme difficult to identify where they come from, because deceiver and tempter can also quote the scripture. Thanks be to God, the winning strategy is already written such as:
- (Psalms 1:2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law does he meditate day and night.
- (Psalms 25:4-5) Show me your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me: for you are the God of my salvation; on you do I wait all the day.
- (Philippians 4:8) Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
- (Philippians 4:9) Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
The warning is also written there: (Philippians 3:18-19) For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. They fall because “who set their minds on earthly things”, it is that simple.
Therefore, if anyone is serious about doing God’s will, he has no choice but to meditate the Word of God day and night, like psalm one verse two. Thus he can fulfill the scripture of “prayer without ceasing”. Now let’s practice it:
To you lift I up my eyes, O you that dwell in the heavens.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait on the LORD our God, until that he have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.
Praise you the LORD. O give thanks to the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.
Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can show forth all his praise?
Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that does righteousness at all times.
Remember me, O LORD, with the favor that you bore to your people: O visit me with your salvation;
That I may see the good of your chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.
We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
Our fathers understood not your wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of your mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.
Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
They soon forgot his works; they waited not for his counsel:
But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram.
And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eats grass.
They forgot God their savior, which had done great things in Egypt;
Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.
Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
Yes, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
But murmured in their tents, and listened not to the voice of the LORD.
Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
They joined themselves also to Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague broke in on them.
Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.
And that was counted to him for righteousness to all generations for ever more.
They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.
They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
And they served their idols: which were a snare to them.
Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to devils,
And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, so that he abhorred his own inheritance.
And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:
And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.
Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks to your holy name, and to triumph in your praise.
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise you the LORD.