¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

The Dark World

I supposed I’ve seen the good and the bad within spirituality. As someone who was saved into a Pentecostal church, I learned early on about the Spirit of God. I was taught that the devil was real, and that there really is something called spiritual warfare. I believe that my first church had a very good balance on this area.

However, over the years, I have met many who I think are unbalanced. They take extremes. Some focus so much on spiritual warfare that they see a devil behind every bush. Regardless of what happens, they focus on the spiritual battle behind the event. On the other side of the coin are those who seem to act as if the devil doesn’t exist. Oh, they will say they believe in the devil, and yet they don’t understand the first thing about dark forces. They find it easy to see God’s hand at work in the world, but dismiss any suggestion of the devil’s work as silly or superstitious.

We simply can’t cover this subject in depth in this devotional. It’s not the purpose of the Oil Change. And yet, le t me suggest to you that the spirit realm is far more complex than we often give it credit. Yes, God exists. And yes, the devil does too. Yes there are angels doing God’s work in the world. And yes, there are demons doing evil.

Our role? Put on spiritual armour so that we can accomplish all that God calls us to do without falling into the trap of evil. Recognize that our battle isn’t against another religion or a different worldview. Our battle is a spiritual one. It is a battle for the hearts of people. And God promises us that when we do things his way, we simply cannot fail.

So, what is the armour of God? Well, for that you will have to wait until tomorrow.

My prayer: Lord, may I never take the spiritual realm lightly. Help me to never simply dismiss it as silliness. And yet, at the same time, help me to keep my focus on what you have called me to accomplish. As I wear your armour, I step out in faith and do what you’ve called me to do. And in the end, I know that I will prevail with you. Amen.

Until tomorrow.