Boxing Matches With The Devil

I can’t be the only one that’s been fighting.

Of course I’m not here to complain or disregard the good—oh, such glorious good—that my Heavenly Father has done for me over the years. Physically, mentally, emotionally, the Lord has truly been guiding and teaching me. The amount of growing I’ve done is out of this world.

However, sometimes the good times give the enemy a motive to initiate a fight. It is when we’re doing our best, finding our purpose, getting more aligned with God, that Luci aka Lucifer, really begins to get angry. This is when he begins to see what he can do to strip us of all the good. For some time, I’ve known the spiritual growth I was experiencing, but I didn’t realize that spiritual warfare that would come with it.

Typically, when we hear “warfare,” we think of a physical battle. We see images of people picking up a weapon of some sort and charging against their enemy. However, we can’t use physical weapons for a spiritual battle. What I’ve come to realize is that Luci isn’t someone that could ever cause me physical harm; the physical is not where he conducts his warfare; “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” [Ephesians 6:12, NLT].

I am familiar with physical fights, but got a little lost when talking about spiritual ones.

I was afraid to step into the ring. 

With God’s work being so strong and good, Luci has to go twice as hard to get to us—he goes out of his way to bring us to the ring. And though I knew what I was fighting, willingly stepping into this match gave me chills. I had to step into a realm I wasn’t sure I would make it out of. I had to strap myself with armor that protected my mind instead of my body; “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” [Ephesians 6:11, NIV].

I knew how hard the devil was watching me; how many notes he was taking; how aware he was of my triggers and weaknesses. He watched everything that made me uneasy and studied how he could win each match. Having nothing better to do, Luci spends his time watching and waiting to tear down God’s children; “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” [1 Peter 5:8, NIV].

After his fall from heaven, Luci made it his mission to do everything he could to enhance the wickedness of this fallen world—the term anti-Christ is quite literal. He moves only to cause destruction and is determined to get us to set up a match with him. If we aren’t careful to guard our hearts, he’ll have us right where he wants us—this is what I was afraid of.

What if I’m not ready for the match? Am I strong enough? Does the enemy know too much about me? What if I can’t see past his tricks? How can I be confident against something that has put its entire focus on my downfall? How can I overcome something that exists to diminish me?

Then, I remembered who has my back.

Yes, I was terrified of this boxing match—that is, until I remembered who my coach has been this whole time. Though my strength isn’t enough, I have the conqueror of the world backing me up; “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” [John 16:33, NIV].

The one who defeated death itself is my source of comfort and strength—Luci really don’t got nothing on me! And though stepping into the ring is scary, I have to remind myself that I am the child of the undefeated; that this sadness and fear are only temporary; that the enemy will only win if I don’t put on the gloves with the Godly-confidence that has been holding me down this whole time.

I can look the enemy dead in his eyes and laugh because I already know who I am through God. I already won because Jesus completed the work — He already handled what’s making me nervous!

I’m here to remind you to get back in the ring. Put on those gloves and knock your enemies out cold. The enemy might be a trickster, but he’s always the loser.