“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12

If you are a faithful and growing Christian intent on following Jesus then you will experience some of these same supernatural wrestlings! In our evidence-driven, rationalistic Western culture, we radically underestimate the realities of spiritual warfare! Some (or perhaps most) of the struggles you experience within yourself and in the world around you have a spiritual dimension.

Simply put, the devil doesn’t want you following Jesus. He doesn’t want you growing in Christ. He doesn’t want you making an impact on the world to advance God’s Kingdom. He doesn’t want you demonstrating the love of Jesus to others. He doesn’t want you sharing Christ with those who need to hear. And the devil will fight back! He will place obstacles in your way, stoke conflicts with others, try to deliver demoralizing defeats, whisper lies into your ears and into the ears of people who talk about you. He will use any dirty trick to keep you from living out the purpose for which God made you! Don’t let the devil stop you!

As you do the Lord’s work in your daily life, realize that you really aren’t battling people. Much of the time you’re battling the devil working in and through people. Don’t despair! Don’t get discouraged! Don’t grow weary of doing good when it becomes difficult. Draw nearer to God and put on the armor He has given you. The truth of the Gospel and who you are in Jesus Christ. The certainty of your salvation. The faith that Christ is present in and with you. The righteousness that is already yours in Christ. Let God’s peace calm your troubled soul. Wrap yourself in God’s truth and prepare to do spiritual battle using the words of Scripture. #FollowJesus

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” – Ephesians 5:8

If Jesus is your Lord, this is your reality! As a blood-bought child of God, you ARE light. Before you knew and believed in Jesus, you were filled with the darkness of sin. Like it or not, that’s how everyone is until they trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. However, if you’ve made that decision, then you truly are light in Christ. Your sins have been forgiven. You have a new nature. You have eternal life. You are sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Jesus lives in you. You are light in the Lord!

Do you live like that’s true? Do you walk – each and every day – as a child of light rather than a child of darkness? Followers of Jesus must not live and act the way they did before they believed. They should not think or talk the way non-believers do. Do you?

Christians must make the intentional choice to truly follow Jesus in the power of His Spirit. To reject sin in their lives and pursue holiness. To do what the Bible commands and not do what it forbids. To devote themselves to the service and advancement of God’s Kingdom here on earth. To make disciples of Jesus. To love God and neighbor, doing such wonderful good works that non-believers notice and praise God. Are you walking as a child of light? #FollowJesus

“He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.”
– Psalm 112:7

Do you fear bad news? Do you live in constant dread that the other shoe will drop? Learn to trust God more completely! Psalm 112 is a hymn celebrating the life and character of those who are deeply devoted to God, profoundly reverent toward Him, in love with His Word, and made righteous by His grace. Such a person doesn’t fear bad news. Why? Because he or she trusts God completely.

This isn’t a false prosperity gospel promise that there won’t ever be bad news for a true Christian. Far from it! Just about everyone receives bad news from time to time. Some good, godly people receive far more bad news than other people. However, as you walk closely with the Lord, you come to understand that you don’t have to be in fear of bad news. You don’t need to be burdened by dread that life is held together by a thread that could snap at any moment.

You see, those who are near to the Lord trust His goodness, His power, and His presence with them amidst bad news. They know that God will never abandon His beloved children but will walk with them through seasons of bad news. The beauty of our faith isn’t that we never receive bad news. It’s that our suffering Savior comforts and strengthens us when bad news comes our way. Trust in the Lord – that He is always on duty, that His ways are always better and wiser than your ways, and that He loves and knows what is eternally best for you. Then you don’t need to fear bad news and you’re ready to glorify God and serve Him well when bad news comes. #FollowJesus

“So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” – Ephesians 4:14

Stability of belief and understanding is a mark of spiritual maturity. As we grow in Christ, understanding Him and His Word more clearly and deeply, we’re less easily influenced by others. This is a very good thing – one of the essential reasons Ephesians 4 says churches are blessed with pastors and teachers. If you were to honestly assess yourself, is this where you are? Are your beliefs and emotions anchored in Christ and relatively unchanging? Or are you all over the map based on what you’ve last seen, heard, or read?

Many Christians today are very much tossed about by the waves and winds of algorithms and influencers. They have zeal for the Lord but lack the stability of truly understanding what He taught. If that is you, seek to grow in maturity. How? Ephesians 4 is clear that we mature and our minds grow stable as we fellowship, worship, and study in the local body of Christ, a Bible-believing and teaching church. This doesn’t happen overnight but is a result of engaged living and studying of God’s Word with others. Choose wise pastors and teachers and learn from them rather than letting algorithms feed you more and more different and confusing influencers.

Cunning, craftiness, and deceit are the norm of the day, especially on social media. There are wonderful resources available online and terrible ones. Don’t let any of these replace the growth opportunities available through a faithful church of Jesus Christ. #FollowJesus

“This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him” – Ephesians 3:11-12

By God’s grace, when you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you gain access to God the Father. Not just any access – bold, confident access. In other words, you have the freedom and privilege to come before God Almighty in prayer, certain that He’s delighted you’ve come. You don’t need to be timid in your prayers. You don’t need to worry that you’re bothering God with your concerns. You can trust that in Jesus Christ, you have an “All Access” pass to enter God’s throne room. You are welcome there!

As a follower of Jesus and blood-bought child of God, you are invited and welcomed to bring every praise, concern, fear, anxiety, doubt, confession, and thanksgiving to God in prayer. He will always listen with favor. He may say no to your request but He won’t punish you, reject you, or mock you for asking. God LOVES you. Because He does, you can trust that He will hear you out with love. You may come before Him boldly and pray confidently.

If you feel like God isn’t listening or your prayers aren’t going anywhere, those feelings are lies! The truth is that when you pray, you are in the presence of God and He is absolutely listening. Don’t be shy. Don’t be a stranger. Don’t save your prayers for just the “big” things. Lift everything up to God with thanksgiving and let the peace of God’s presence fill your soul. #FollowJesus