“Spiritual Warfare” by Jamie Helms

I haven’t always had an awareness of spiritual warfare. Early on in my faith journey, I read some verses about how we should arm ourselves against the enemy and guard ourselves in Truth, but if I’m completely honest, I think I just smiled and nodded through those verses. You know the kind of smile and nod – the kind you do when someone is telling a story and says something like, “You know what I’m talking about, right?” but you really have no idea and just want to hear the rest of the story… that was my way of dealing with the idea of spiritual warfare. Smile and nod and keep reading. But over the years I have learned, seen, experienced, suffered through, and risen above some spiritual warfare.

Sharing a few of those experiences will hopefully help others become more keenly aware of the warfare that comes with following Christ!

There seem to be some false precepts that when you accept Christ as Lord and Savior that two big things happen: first, that you suddenly know a LOT about the Bible; and second, that you will live an easier life because Jesus is in control. While the first is entirely not true and you will live the rest of your life learning more about the Bible and who Jesus is, the second precept must be coupled with the understanding that you can experience the BEST life during the hardest circumstances because of the joy that comes from following Christ. So it isn’t the absence of difficulty, it is the understanding that Jesus walks alongside the difficulty.

About seven years ago I was in a bible study with some women whose faith was charismatic, passionate, and hungry. It was during this study that I first heard the undertones of spiritual warfare and how REAL it was. One lady discussed the despair her son experienced after losing his daddy in an accident, and she described praying one evening for the enemy to release her son from the curse of oppression that he was experiencing daily. She said after praying so fervently, her son threw up. Even MORE astonishing, he woke up the next day with a restoration of joy that she hadn’t seen in ages.

An older, wise lady prayed over me after I had told her about a fear that had plagued me and caused issues between my husband and me for years. During her prayer, she asked me to visualize the fear and to envision the Lord taking that fear literally out of my hands. After praying I felt such a release of emotions and a lightening of heart.

With so many first-hand experiences of how their own spiritual warfare stories had been conquered with Christ, I started exploring more about what the Bible says about spiritual warfare. In 1 Peter 5: 8-9, the Bible says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” (NIV) There is no mincing of words in these two verses. We are to be aware and ALERT. When I began to be alert about how the enemy was trying to steal my joy, I became more proactive in maintaining my joy as a mother, daughter, wife, and believer.

About six years ago my husband began going on international mission trips to proclaim Jesus’ name to unreached populations. Before, during, and after every mission trip, we experience spiritual warfare so intense that it is palatable. From water pipes breaking under our house (the financial burden being a distraction from the trip’s mission) to almost being hit by a car jumping the curb while I was strolling our youngest children around a perfectly safe neighborhood street, the warfare of distraction and the attempts at entrapping our family in a state of fear has been obvious and difficult.

This past winter while my husband and his team were under severe persecution halfway across the world at 3:02 pm (their time), we had an attempted burglary at 3:02 am (Huntsville time) through the children’s windows. It is undeniable Truth what Isaiah 54:17 says, “No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me, says the Lord.” (MEV) What was designed to harm and frighten us, the Lord has used to push us closer to Him and to share His goodness, His protection, and His JOY in the storms thrown our way. 

If I have learned anything about spiritual warfare it is this: whatever weapon formed against us in this world has been overcome by our precious Heavenly Father in heavenly places. Ephesians 6:11-17 describes how we can arm ourselves with weapons against spiritual forces.

Now, all this said, does it mean that you have to attend international mission trips or to be on a church staff to be a warrior for Christ? Of course not. In fact, most warrior moments I have are in the daily battles of raising our daughters and how I am living out my faith to those around me.

A sweet student posted this quote from Heidi Baker that said, “Ministry could simply be about loving the person in front of you.” So when we look at the spiritual warfare in our lives (think: anything that is causing us distraction from worshipping our Father), remember the gas station attendant, the frustrating teacher, the overbearing neighbor, the difficult boss, the financial issue you’re having, the sickness you are plagued with, or the fight with a family member that seems to never end. What is distracting you, and how can you push past the noise and distraction to find the restorative joy of your salvation? When we do that, we become overcomers in the most beautiful love story ever told.

~ Written by Jamie Helms ~

Jamie Marie (St. John) Helms is the wife of her precious husband named Alec and the mama to four young daughters (Vivian, Fisher, Mary Crim, and Franny). She has a background in education, student ministry, and writing. The Helms are members of Willowbrook Baptist Church and are always looking for a new opportunity to serve together as a family. And they are expecting their fifth child!

Tags: Jamie Helms, prayer, Soul Food, Spiritual Warfare, Truth