Part 2 of 5: Standing Firm in the Battle - 6 Voices. 5 Topics. One goal—endure in faith, joy, and truth

Standing Firm During Spiritual Attack

Standing Firm During Spiritual Attack

Welcome back to Part 2 of our 5-part series, "Standing Firm in the Battle." In this series, six believers share wisdom and encouragement on spiritual endurance. In Part 1, we explored how each contributor resists temptation in real time. If you missed it, you can read part 1 here.

Today, we turn to the reality of spiritual warfare. The Bible reminds us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces. In this post, each writer reflects on how they recognize spiritual attack and what helps them stand firm in the middle of it.

How Do You Stand Firm During Spiritual Attack?

Dan Blincoe:

It can feel backwards at first, but spiritual attack isn’t something to fear. It’s something to recognize. Like the sound of twigs snapping just beyond the firelight, it wakes you up, makes you alert, reminds you that you’re in a story. Not just any story, but a war story. When you gave your heart to Jesus, you stepped into that war. But it’s a war with a decisive ending. The victory has already been won.

The fight isn’t against people. It’s not against circumstances. It’s against something unseen, subtle, and strategic (Ephesians 6:12). The enemy’s most effective move is to get you to forget who you are. To get you to believe you're on your own, unwanted, or not enough. But you’re not a fragile soul hoping to dodge the next blow. You are the beloved of God. Filled with His Spirit. Wrapped in His righteousness. Seated with Jesus in the heavenlies. That’s who you are now.

This isn’t about trying harder. It’s about seeing more clearly. About living from the center, where your heart and God’s heart meet. If you’re walking close with Him, rooted in His truth, then when the enemy comes knocking, there’s no place for him to land. He still lies, but if your identity is anchored, those lies fall flat.

The armor of God isn’t some emergency gear you scramble for when things get dark. It’s what you wear when you’re walking with Him, day in and day out. Truth buckled around you, peace on your feet, righteousness like a breastplate, salvation guarding your thoughts, faith held high like a shield, and the Word of God in your hand like a sword (Ephesians 6:13–17). It’s not a reaction plan. It’s how you move through life.

The key to all of this? Surrender. But not the kind people often fear. Not because God’s demanding it, but because He’s kind. Because He’s good. You submit to Him not out of terror, but out of trust. And when your life is yielded to Him, the enemy has no ground. He flees, not because of your volume, but because of your alignment with the One who already crushed him (James 4:7).

Pay attention to the order there. Submit to God first. Too often, we rush to resist and then wonder why it’s not working. But resistance without surrender has no power. The strength is in the yielding.

Don’t get caught chasing performance. Don’t let fear pull you off course. You weren’t meant to strive for victory. You were meant to live from it. Rooted in love. Grounded in truth. And when the storm hits, you’ll still be standing. Because your roots go deep.

And greater is the One who lives in you than the one who prowls around outside the camp (1 John 4:4).

Steven Galatioto:

Just as a soldier never steps onto the battlefield without armor, we should never step into our day without spiritual protection. A firefighter wouldn’t rush into flames without gear, and a pilot wouldn’t fly without checking instruments, so why would we enter the world unarmed against the enemy’s attacks? Spiritual warfare is real, and Ephesians 6:10-18 has functioned as the divine battle plan since the beginning of my own walk. Preparation begins with a strong foundation—just as Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Here’s how to put on the full armor of God daily, using Faithful Habits as a defense strategy:

1. Belt of Truth → Daily Scripture & Memorization

• Read God’s Word each morning before anything else.

• Memorize—internalize—key verses to stand against deception. (Jesus quoted Deuteronomy against Satan in Matthew 4.)

• Ask: “Is this thought or feeling rooted in biblical truth?”

2. Breastplate of Righteousness → Walking in the Spirit

• Confess and repent daily to keep your heart pure.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your actions and motives.

• Choose integrity in small things—righteousness is a habit.

3. Shoes of the Gospel of Peace → Worship & Sharing Christ

• Start the day with praise, setting your heart at peace.

• Be ready to share your testimony or encourage someone.

• When anxiety strikes, declare God’s promises of peace.

4. Shield of Faith → Speaking Life & Trusting God

• Speak faith-filled words over your life and circumstances.

• When doubts come, counter them with God’s promises.

• Surround yourself with faith-filled believers for support.

5. Helmet of Salvation → Renewing the Mind

• Meditate on the security of your salvation in Christ.

• Reject lies of unworthiness, failure, or fear.

• Start the day declaring: “I am saved, loved, and empowered by God.”

6. Sword of the Spirit → Declaring the Word in Battle

• When fear, temptation, or discouragement hit—speak Scripture aloud.

• Pray with authority, claiming God’s Word over your situation.

• Write down key verses for different battles (fear, anger, temptation).

7. Prayer & Vigilance → Constant Connection with God

• Pray Ephesians 6:10-18 before leaving home daily.

• Journal prayers and testimonies of victory.

• Stay alert—recognize spiritual attacks and respond with faith.

Victory comes not from avoiding battle, but from standing firm—armed, prepared, and steady in Christ.

Cole Nielsen:

I never truly understood sin until I understood that “sin is lying at the door; and its desire is for you” (Genesis 4:7). It’s not an abstract concept—something you slip into by mistake. Sin is an active force courting you as an earnest lover. It longs to draw you into its den—luring you into its soft sheets where it will take hold of your desires, “then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (James 1:15).

Just like a lover, sin doesn’t start big, it doesn’t drag you, it desires to “capture you with her eyelashes” to make you “desire her beauty in your heart” (Proverbs 6:25). It makes you think to yourself, “I’m not doing anything wrong. What does a little look hurt? A little flirtation? I can leave at any time.” Yet, every time you take a step away it cries, “stay with (me) a few days, or even ten; afterward (you) can go” (Genesis 24:55). We stay—thinking we can, “carry fire next to (our) chest” and have our “clothes not be burned” (Proverbs 6:27)—until sin has, “taken its fill of (our) strength” (Proverbs 5:10) and we are “at the end of (our) life (and we) groan when (our) flesh and body are consumed” (Proverbs 5:11).

I was only able to come to this understanding of sin when I realized ‘The Lord is my shepherd’ (Psalm 23:1). By His voice, I can now discern sin’s seductive call. He now, “keeps (my) way far from her” and away from “the door of her house” (Proverbs 5:8). “He leads me beside still waters” (Psalm 23:2)—living water becoming “in (me) a spring welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). Now that my “fountain (is) blessed... (I can) rejoice in” Christ— “a lovely deer, a graceful doe” who “fills (me) at all times with delight.” If I am “intoxicated always in (His) love,” how could I ever “be intoxicated... with a forbidden woman” like sin (Proverbs 5:18-20)?

Janet Abadir:

The older I get, the more I see that all of life is a battle. If you aren't fighting, you are losing.

What is this cosmic battle we are in? It's the battle between man's pride, stubbornness, and self-will and God's holy, righteous and good will. Satan just has to give us ammunition and we will keep on rebelling—biting and devouring one another, allowing division, distrust, and destruction into our community.

Every day I wake up with a mind full of thoughts and beliefs about God and myself. I think I know what my purpose is, and what success and failure is for the day. Yet I can be so easily misled on my own without God speaking into my mind through His Word and the Holy Spirit.

How can we win this battle for our minds? Our greatest skill is repentance. We release our will and our thoughts and humbly accept God's will and God's thoughts. We can only know God's will and thoughts by studying His Word every day. We need to start out with the assumption that our thinking is flawed, because we are not just people who sin, we are sinners by nature. Repent of choosing your will and your kingdom over God's will and God's kingdom. Pray as Jesus did, "Not my will, but Your will be done," and "I delight to do Your will, O my God, Your law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8).

Dying to the old nature every day is essential to win the battle. Picture yourself on the altar, offering your entire self to God as a pleasing sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). Realize that it is only by God's mercy and Christ's sacrifice that you are acceptable, then delight that you can please God today. Relocate your purpose and glory into Jesus. Release your will, receive God's will, rejoice that you belong to God. Ask God for humility and dependence on Him, and ears to hear His voice. Treasure the meekness and obedience of Jesus, the sweetest aroma to God. Meditate on God's transcendence (He is in His own category, far above us and without contest the Almighty) and immanence (He is close to us, the God who is near, and who sees).

Then rise up in faith and joy that the battle is won! Jesus is on the throne, and we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord (Hebrews 13:15). See yourself as a king and priest to God, and take up your role as intercessor for yourself, others, and the church. The blood of Jesus is all-powerful to save you and defeat all your enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Speak these truths out loud and sing of your victory. Darkness has to flee when the light shines. Let the light of Jesus shine on all the darkest places of your heart and repent quickly, then rejoice in His freedom. No weapon fashioned against you can stand (Isaiah 54:17). Tell someone of Jesus' work in your life, and seek to establish transparent, vulnerable community in your local church.

Eric Mattie:

Not every problem we have is a spiritual attack. However, The Enemy will leverage problems that we face to steal our joy in Christ, kill our trust in the Lord, and destroy God’s glorious reputation.

Jesus is honest with us when he says, "in the world you will have tribulation" (Read John 16:33b). James encourages us to take joy in various problems because God has a purpose of maturing us and making us stronger in Christ. (See James 1:2-4) So, we understand that trouble and tribulations will occur.

The Realities of Our Problems

I have a sticky note at work listing four sources of problems, based on a Paul David Tripp newsletter. I use it daily to identify and address issues for my co-workers and customers.

The list includes:

• The devil.

• A broken world.

• Our imperfections.

• God’s plan may be different than ours.

Problems are staggering enough to handle. As the saying goes, “adulting is hard”. Yet the discretion we need to prayerfully consider is being alert and aware when The Enemy is going to attack.

Subtle Attacks During Life’s Problems

During life’s problems, Satan will attack.

When we feel the heartache of a broken world, The Enemy plays dirty with God’s purposes, power, and providence. In life, we face the stress and pain of disorder, disabilities, disease, depression, death, and disasters. But there are times when The Enemy comes along and plants confusion by questioning God’s goodness and our self-worth, leading us to doubt His character and work in our lives.

There are times when we may not reflect Christ in our words, motives, or actions. This can lead to problems for us. While the saying "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven" is true, we must accept the consequences of our actions with humility and repentance instead of defensiveness. The Enemy often tries to confound matters by feeding our wounded hearts with self-righteousness and then condemning us for not being more like Jesus.

Sometimes, God works in ways that don’t match what we want. The challenges we face might mean His plan is different. We may not notice this because we’re busy figuring things out. God guides us by closing doors and saying no to some prayers. Friends might remind us that God’s ways aren’t always like ours. Or they give advice that doesn’t fit what we want. The Enemy’s attack comes in the form of complaining that things are not going our way. The devil loves getting you to spin your wheels rather than submit to His better plan and work in your life.

So, between The Enemy confusing, condemning, confounding and complaining his voice can grow loud in our problems and siphon us off from the life-giving truth that we need to face our trials and tribulations.

God’s Word Needs to Grow Louder!!

That’s our strategy. Full stop!

We must assertively uphold God’s truth about our problems over the devil’s lies.

How do you do that?

1. Continue to grow in knowing the Lord personally and theologically. Draw near to His Presence and near to His Word (James 4:8, Psalm 119:11)

2. Sharpen your Sword by memorizing God's promising Word. Isaiah 41:10 is powerful. Proclaim it when the enemy strikes. Keep opening the word

3. Turn on worship songs. Exalt God's character in song and worship. I advise people "Turn it up to get it stuck!"

Go worship our King!

Boma:

“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. “ Proverbs 21:31

This world is a mysterious place and even what we think we know may unravel and fail us at the time when we need it the most — only the truth will stand.

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood and so we cannot win by our strength.

As Christians, God has provided us with resources that ensure we are not overcome by evil forces of darkness and wickedness.

This is not a fight where we can choose when to go in or out. It is a fight where we need the whole armor of God — not to win — but just to be able to stand.

We are always in the battle and it is wisdom to approach it with the gravity it requires.

You will get tired and, sometimes, you might even come to believe that you need a break — to rest and be refreshed so you can come back ready again to fight.

Don’t believe that lie. It’s a ploy of the enemy to isolate you and feed you with more lies that corrupt from inside and weaken your defenses.

It’s true that the enemy doesn’t have to follow you around if he has you believing wrong — for as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7)

So even when you think you might faint, stand still—

Keep praying.

Keep believing God’s word.

Keep doing the word.

Soon, you will find that God does not abandon His own.

He will supply all you need.

He will help you because without Him you can do nothing.

There will be days when you do not understand what you see — because reality does not align with the truth you know.

You must remember then that truth is what God has said, not what appears to be real.

When those days come, stay in the place where God has planted you. Do not look to the left or to the right. Keep your eyes on the Lord Jesus and continue to confess the truth, for God has said, “As ye have spoken in Mine ears, so will I do to you”. (Numbers 14:28)

Do you find that you’re having to put out one fire after another? Tell me, do you have your shield up, soldier?

Take up the shield of faith and leave it up no matter what.

God will not fail you.

Our victory lies in what He has already done for us. It is finished. The work is already done.

Our Lord has triumphed over every evil force of darkness and wickedness. (Colossians 2:15)

It is through Him that we win.

Through Him we are more than conquerors. (Romans 8:37)

Through Him you will not faint, no matter how long the battle lasts.

So keep your eyes on the Lord. (Hebrews 12:2)

Use the weapons God has given us. They work. (2 Corinthians 10:3–6)

Put on the whole armor of God, and having done all, stand. (Ephesians 6:13)

Coming Up in Part 3

Next in the series, our contributors will share how they have learned to persevere during long seasons of waiting. Whether it’s for breakthrough, healing, clarity, or hope—waiting can test our faith deeply. In Part 3, we’ll explore how to remain faithful, trust God's timing, and find strength in the waiting.

Stay tuned for Part 3: Persevering in Long Seasons of Waiting.

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