Ephesians 6:12 says, “ For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

There is a battle going on all around us in another dimension and we are not overtly aware of it.We don’t see it or feel it. Good v. evil, Angels v. demons, call it whatever you wish but it is very real. In Daniel Chapter 10 the story is told where Daniel has been praying for 21 days. Daniel is becoming frustrated because his prayer has not been answered when suddenly an Angel from Heaven appears to him. The Angel says to Daniel, “Daniel, God loves you deeply, and God has heard your prayers ever since the first time you humbled yourself. I (the Angel) have come in answer to your prayer.But the evil prince of this kingdom (a dark angel or demon) has opposed and blocked me for 21 days. Michael, the Arc Angel, intervened for me because I had been blocked from coming to you with the answer .” Is this not the wildest thing you have ever heard???

The Bible doesn’t tell us much more than this about the unseen battle, but it is real. Do you ever feel frustrated, feel like giving up? Discouraged? Full of angst? Me, too. The enemy will attack you with spiritual darts: the dart of fear, the dart of doubt, the dart of insecurity, the dart of worry and so on. The closer you get to God the more intense the battle becomes because Satan wants to keep you from accomplishing your God-given calling. The more we grow spiritually the more intense the fight. But God does not send us into this battle unarmed. We go into battle armed with a nuclear-grade arsenal. 1 Peter 5:8-9 – 8 says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” And in James 4:7 – 7 it says “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Trusting in God, staying in faith, even when you don’t feel like trusting and being faith-filled is the way. Jesus is the light of the world, and the light has already overcome the darkness. There are dark and evil forces at play in this world, but we have, through our faith, the ability to resist them and live our lives in fulfillment.

Live life with purpose…