Carol J German

The more you understand the battle that wages on within your heart as a believer in Christ, the more receptive you are to walking in obedience. As you walk by faith daily, it becomes easier and easier to hear from the Holy Spirit and respond to how He is leading you.

So, what really is the battle?

To start, you have your physical birth and your spiritual birth. Your physical birth means you are separated from God because of sin; read Psalm 51:5. Then when the Holy Spirit enters into your heart at your salvation, you become a new person, alive in Christ. You are no longer separated from God. Jesus’ blood and sacrifice removes the barrier of guilt and shame from sin and you become God’s son or daughter; read Romans 3:23 then 6:23.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 ESV)

Now, you are living in Satan’s kingdom which is anti-God. This earth is a battlefield. It is sinful for it rebels God and His truths. While this fact is true, you can praise God that He is The Sovereign God who is in control of Satan and his posse. He has this world under His control, and He has the ability to use the good and the bad for His glory. Can I get an Amen!?!

The whole world and its inhabitants have been created by The Almighty, Living God!

God offers the most incredible redemption plan for man to be saved from Satan and sin, and it has been faithfully moving forward without any hindrances throughout all of history. You see His Story play out over and over and over within the pages of the Bible.

Know His Word well for it will aid in your fighting for your faith each day.

The hardship of this battle from within is how you vacillate between two worlds. One world is carnal and unspiritual, and the other is godly and spiritual. While you have become comfortable and familiar with the carnal side, God works within you to move you over to the spiritual side. Thus, a battle ensues within you.

In this life, you develop strongholds or ways of coping with things. Now, God desires to lead you to a new way of living, but it will take your full cooperation in getting you to where He wants you. You have to gain a new mindset that works with God rather than against Him; memorize Proverbs 3:5-6.

Again, know the Bible well for it will aid in your fighting for your faith each day and respond to it.

The battles we each face are different person to person, but the end result is the same, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” (John 3:30) God uses hardships (maturing opportunities) to lead you and I to become more and more dependent on the Trinity. As you and I face our sins and realize we are helpless without Jesus (see John 15:5), know there can only be one winner! You and I must be willing to surrender and lose; be willing to be demoted so God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit can rise up and live in our hearts.

Will you let God break you for His glory or will you continue to live for yourself on this side of heaven?

One way becomes eternal while the other has an ending which is eternal separation from God; see 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. The choices you make today will determine the outcome for your tomorrow. No one knows when Jesus will come for you. Which side will He find you on?

Ponder these 2 quotes:

“Be a Mary before you become a Martha. Sit at (Jesus’) feet first, then rise to serve. The order changes everything!” (Mike Signorelli)

“You’re not going to find fulfillment in a new location if you are not rooted in Jesus.” (Juan Martinez)

Jesus tells a crowd of people, “If any of you want to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is there anything worth more than your soul?” (Mark 8:34-37)

The battle from within will continue until Jesus takes you home. Until then, don’t let this world, Satan, nor your flesh have any say! Jesus conquered death so He can fight your battle for you; read the book of Jude and pay attention to verse 9; follow how the angel took care of Satan. Relinquish yourself over to the One who loves you more than you do. Jesus is the only one who can subdue the battle from within and lead you to victory.