The Wars Which We Fight

First off I would like to ask a question to get everyone thinking.  How much of our daily life is a battle and what kind of a battle are we fighting? 

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
⁴ (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Ephesians 6:12 ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

I would submit that satan has us so diluted to the reality of the spiritual realm and it's effects in our day to day lives (or our day to day life's effects on it!) that he barely has to attack us some times. James tells us every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires... then he is enticed. Enticed by what? Later he tells us resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Demonic forces are organized, structured, opportunistic, and strategic. Our flesh is week, and so we are drawn away by it...but when that happens the demons aren't going to say... "Oh, he is struggling with hate...lets sit back and watch where this goes!"  Instead when they see you struggling they move in and tempt you in the area of your weakness. 

A messy house causes anxiety...so can we then assume that a messy house indirectly gives an open door to demonic spirits of anxiety to work in our lives? I believe so. As I said earlier, the demons are not going to notice your anxiety and just leave you be (unless you are already subdued to the will of satan) they will use that opportunity to foster in you deeper emotional turmoil.

Entertaining an angry thought can give place to demonic forces of anger, hate, and rage etc...

John 3:30

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease.   

I can't stress this verse enough! In nearly EVERY decision we make in our day to day life we have an opportunity to edify self or to edify God. Anything that edifies self decreases Christ in our life. Anything that edifies God must decrease self in our life.

Something as simple as the car we buy... are we buying because we WANT that car or because that car is the wise choice?
 
Are we going to church to grow closer to God or to keep up appearances? Are we singing worship songs on stage to look good in front of the crowd and get praise or to truly give glory to God?

I believe that any time a self edifying thought is entertained by us it gives place to demonic influence in our life. I do not see satan and his demons passing an opportunity to decrease God in anyone's life. This means we must, as 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;


I would challenge everyone to abide in Christ and prayer. Take captive every thought that exalts itself above HIM. Test your thoughts and actions to see your motives. I have found far more of my daily life than I ever realized needs to be done away with because after getting to the root it's all self edifying. So this challenge is something I am taking on personally as well and I would like others to join me. There are extremes one can take this thought to... but even then I would rather be extreme for GOD than live to edify self. So long as we are not contradicting scripture then how can extreme be bad?