Spiritual Warfare

Do you struggle with your emotions? Have you ever felt strapped into an out-of-control roller coaster ride of turbulent reactions? Are you sometimes driven by feelings you know are sinful and harmful? Everyone has encountered the battle of the emotions. Perhaps you can relate to the turmoil in the Jones’s household. It is almost time for Joe to come home from work. Ann wants everything to be just right tonight, so she’s setting the table with extra care, using her best china. She can smell the delicate flavors of Joe’s favorite meal bubbling in the oven. She places the plates just so in the center of the placemats. But she feels a little frustrated because her day has been stressful. Her elementary-age daughter, Michelle, has been banished to her bedroom for kicking her little brother, Benny. Ann can hear Michelle angrily screaming from behind the door. “You be quiet in there!” Ann yells as she folds napkins and sets them neatly beside the plates. The screams continue without a break, so Ann threatens, “You’d better stop screaming or I’m going to take away your bike for a week!” The screaming still continues, so Ann keeps threatening. Benny, who was playing in the living room, tunes out his mother’s voice and wanders outside to ride his tricycle. As he pedals across the driveway, he notices a ball laying in the yard. He abandons his trike to play with the ball.

A few minutes later, Joe’s sedan screeches to a stop in the driveway. His front bumper barely misses crushing the front tire of the little red trike. Joe shoves open the door, his face red with irritation. “Ann,” he hollers, “get out here and get this pile of junk out of the driveway! When I come home, I’m tired and I don’t want the children’s toys in my way!” Ann’s head pops out of the front screen door. She speaks in a slow, controlled voice, “Joe, I have told you a thousand times to keep your voice down! What will the neighbors think?” Joe jumps out of his car, tosses the trike onto the lawn, then pulls his car fully into the driveway. As soon as he closes the front door, Ann says, “Wash up for dinner right away. I’ve fixed your favorite meal.” Then she walks down the hall to tell Michelle she can come to the dinner table. As soon as Michelle reaches the kitchen, she starts howling, “I’m hungry. I wanna eat!”

When everyone is seated, Benny immediately grabs a muffin from a basket in the center of the table and crams it into his mouth. “Put it back, Benny,” Ann insists. “I want your father to thank God for the food first. That is if he’s grateful for all the work I’ve gone to. Are you, Joe?” she demands in a grating voice. “Oh, shut up!” Joe responds. “All I want is a little peace and respect around here. But all you do is nag at everything I do. For once, let’s eat our dinner in peace.” Joe pours gravy over his mashed potatoes and roast beef. He scoops up a generous portion of potatoes with his fork and shoves it into his mouth. Before he completely finishes swallowing, he grimaces. “For crying out loud! Can’t you ever handle the saltshaker gently? You’ve put so much salt in this gravy that it tastes like it’s made out of sea water.” A lump forms in Ann’s throat and tears fill her eyes. Her beautifully set table seems to have lost its shine and the children stare at their plates without a word. Joe hardly notices when Ann puts down her napkin and retreats to the bedroom.

This scene is like those we experience at one time or another. If you asked them, neither Joe nor Ann would say that their purpose was to hurt each other. They want to build a happy marriage with loving children. But they do what they don’t want to do because their emotions are out of control. The reason for this book is to assist a Christian in controlling the emotions and not allow the forces of evil to have victory. Each one of the chapters is vital in learning this lesson of being a mature Christian. The first chapter deals with the basis for controlling the emotions. It is called the basis for self-acceptance. The second chapter involves the principle for controlling the emotional man. The other chapters deal with renewing the mind, controlling depression, fear, resentment, anger, and other emotions. Chapter seven uses the parable of the prodical son to illustrate the need for the renewal of the mind and adopting the attitude of forgiveness.

The title of this book indicates it deals with spiritual warfare. Seldom would Christians debate the existence of angels; yet they are leery of saying there are demonic spirits. Spiritual warfare is defending oneself from the attack of the demonic forces. This attack usually comes through the soul rather than the flesh. The soul is the mind, will, and emotions. It is my intention to assist any Christian in resisting the devil.

In each chapter you will find an introduction, an exhortation, an opportunity to verbally communicate to the Lord, thought provoking questions, a warfare prayer starter and steps of actions. This is a practical book, which will assist you in walking with the Lord. You will find that warfare prayers will place an emphasis of reviewing the past and an awareness of past events has power over ones life.

            The basis for renewing the mind is a passage in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Hypnosis is the worlds’ substitute for the work of the Holy Spirit.