by Ray Singer

Ray Singer is one of the busiest people I know. He typically boards an airplane on Monday mornings and returns to Tennessee late on Fridays. He’s married to a busy person, too (his wife, Pam, is a physician). Despite a hectic schedule, Ray realized a crisis in his life and sought out an intentional discipling relationship. We’ve been meeting for several months now with a few other men. During one of our recent early Monday morning meetings (before he headed to the airport), Ray made a particularly good observation regarding something he’s learning about spiritual warfare. I asked him to put this in writing and am sharing it here with his permission. – Mike Stroud

There’s an old song titled “The Battle Belongs To The LORD”. It always reminds me that when soldiers go into battle, they prepare, in advance, to win. In order to win they bring multiple weapons onto the battlefield. Some are for offense and others are for defense.

Too many times, in my life, I’ve shown up to battle Satan and I lost. After my loss, I pull out my trusty weapon, prayer, and bargain with God that if He’ll fix and forgive, “I’ll never do this or that again”.

What I’m doing is tantamount to battling with no weapons even though our omnipotent God equips me with multiple weapons to use BEFORE I go into battle. He even provides free lessons in how to use them and guarantees a win, “if” I use them.

Yet, time and time again, I lose…even though God has guaranteed me a victory. But that victory only comes if I study scripture, sharpen my iron with other Christians, follow His teachings, and learn how “and when” to use His weapons.

Ephesians 6:14-17 NIV says:
[14] Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
[15] and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
[16] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
[17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

These are the weapons (truth, righteousness, peace, faith, Spirit, and the Word) which will win every battle with Satan every time! Let us buckle our belt, ready our feet, grab our shield, strap on our helmet, and meet the evil one with God by our side. WE CAN’T LOSE!!!