I have no doubt that Christians are involved in a war that we cannot see. It is as real as anything we can see. The issues we experience with our physical bodies have temporary value. The war that we cannot see has eternal value. Spiritual warfare is real. Having an intimate relationship with God is the best defense against Satan's attempts to discredit the cause of Christ.
First of all, we must know our enemy, but not fear him. Christians fight FROM victory, not FOR victory. God is not losing the war and does not need us to fight for Him. God has won the war, but Satan still battles for our focus, to try to get our eyes off God. Satan wants to kill and destroy our witness and cause us to be a stumbling block for the unsaved. Satan still has a purpose to put us into "fight mode".
Don't think that once we are saved, we are safe from his attacks. That is why God laid out a plan of defense for Christians; it is called the full armor of God. You can read more about exactly what that entails in Ephesians 6: 10-18. These verses are written in the imperative, voice of command. It is not optional. It is necessary. God know this, so He provided a way.
God graciously gave us all we need to live when He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross where, by the way, Satan was defeated. Satan is still the prince of lies, however, and uses the same ol' tactics to discourage and cause us to call into question anything that is good in our lives. Remember, all good things come from above, right??? So, it is in his best interest to deceive those who have a relationship with God. Our faith is based on facts, not feelings. Even when we don't feel like "this" or "that", if those feelings oppose the facts by which we have been saved, we can dismiss them as Satan's attempt to deceive us, by causing us to deceive ourselves. He is a tricky one!
The best defense is a good offense. Here are somethings I do when I "feel" defeated (or offended). Sharing my faith with someone is a great faith builder. I live my life as a witness to His provisions. I make time for God everyday. I don't doubt the facts of my salvation. I have faith that God is with me always, just as He promises.
Everything we have, outside of Jesus, is just icing on the cake of life. He is all we "NEED". I am grateful for His blessings and provisions. Lest I never forget that God never promised it would be easy, only worth it. I accept and are grateful for God's provisions through a relationship with Him and His armor to endure through the difficult times, rejoice in the sweet times, and praise Him all the time!
