Preparing for the Enemy
I listened intently to my husband as he told me about standing on the border of Iraq in the middle of the night in March 2003. He watched the sandy desert in front of him, wondering who and what was out there. He was 20 years old, and about to invade a foreign country to fight an enemy.
An enemy is someone who is actively hostile or opposed to someone or something else. Our reality as believers in Jesus is that you and I have an enemy. You and I have someone who is actively hostile and opposed to us.
When talking to my husband about his experience serving as a United States Marine with two deployments, I asked him how he was prepared for going to war. To my surprise, he mentioned that they didn’t have much preparation outside of their traditional combat training from boot camp. It made me ask myself, “How much training do I have to fight the enemy of my soul?” In a moment of honest and raw reflection, I sheepishly admit, most times I don’t feel adequately prepared for the enemy.
The first part of John 10:10 tells us, that “The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy,” (NASB). The thief is referencing our enemy, and reminding us that he is wanting to bring havoc and destruction into our lives. He will come to pillage everything he can; because pillage is theft that happens under the cover of war. It is done quickly, violently, and destructively. One need to only read about human history to see the horrors of war and the pillaging that comes afterward.
In order to defeat the enemy, we have, we have to know his tactics and schemes. A good soldier will pay attention to their enemy to learn their patterns, behaviors, strengths, and weaknesses. One of the most powerful ways that you and I can do this, is to pay attention to how the enemy brings conflict and chaos into our lives.
For me, it is rejection.
I have a significant soul wound of rejection. It’s a wound that Jesus has done some wonderful healing in, and He is still actively mending the figurative torn fabrics of that piece of me. However, the enemy knows this is my weakness. He can slither up, ever so quietly, and whisper a lie, a question, or a memory into my ear, that sends me into a tailspin emotionally and mentally.
“Did you see the way she looked at you?”
“You never do anything right.”
“Remember when you said ______?”
The list goes on and on. If I entertain those thoughts, it’s hook, line, and sinker. Every. Time. I feel hurt, isolated, and lonely, which can lead me into depression and anxiety. I can lash out at my husband and children, do a poor job at work, disconnect from my friends, and stop anything and everything that has to do with Jesus. And the cycle will continue quicker and harsher, until I realize I have been pillaged. I have been robbed of peace and joy and it takes time and effort to repair the damage done to relationships because of this thievery.
Thankfully, because of Jesus, I can choose another option. If I know the enemy is actively pursuing opportunities to steal, kill, and destroy me, then I need to be on the offense. This means being active in my awareness of what is happening in my life. Am I tired? Overwhelmed? Hungry? Going through a difficult season? Because chances are, that during these times, I am more susceptible to an attack in my area of weakness. If I am aware of my condition, I can change it.
Another way to be prepared is to get equipped with the right tools for defense. My husband said that one of the things he was told as a Marine heading off to war is “to trust your gear, your guys, and your chain of command.”
Trust your gear. We have gear as believers. In fact, we are told in Ephesians 6:11-18, about the “Armor of God.” Paul gives us an allegory to our faith as a soldier preparing for battle. These include the belt of truth, the sword of the spirit, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of readiness for the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation.
Trust your tribe. A soldier cannot win a war by himself. It takes an army of people to unite together to overcome an enemy. Having genuine fellowship with other believers that you trust to share what is truly going on in your life creates community. Proverbs 27:27 tells us that “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” We have to be close enough to touch to sharpen one another.
Trust you chain of command. None of us is the general in charge of this army. The General is Jesus. There are many times a soldier may not understand the “why,” he has received a command. But his job as a soldier is to be obedient. Proverbs 3:5 tells us that we need to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
It’s not a matter of asking “If the enemy will attack,” but “When?”. I know that when he does, it will go to the areas that hurt the most. I need to be ready. Are you ready to engage the enemy? If you’re not feeling ready, take some time to journal these questions and allow the Lord to poke your heart on how become ready.
Points to Ponder:
1. How has the enemy pillaged your peace and joy in the past year?
2. Looking back over the past year, what is an area the enemy seems to attack you in?
3. Which part of “trusting your gear, trusting your tribe, and trusting your chain of command,” can you work on strengthening?
Megan Sinisi absolutely adores a good cup of coffee, chocolate, and sitting with people to share life stories. She is a native to Las Vegas, born and raised, and has four beautiful children with her handsome husband, Vincenzo. She is a counselor, specializing in the field of addictions, with multiple certifications, both in Nevada and nationally. She directed Nevada’s largest treatment court and has been building her private practice since 2014, acquiring contracts with the City of Las Vegas, City of Henderson, Clark County Special Defender’s Office, and Zappos.com. It is because of her own journey of healing and through her career that she has learned the wounds we have can begin to be healed as we share our stories. She considers it an honor when someone shares their story with her, and hopes that as she shares her stories of victory and healing that others can be inspired, encouraged, and challenged. Megan has a love and fervor for writing and is walking in faith that God is calling her to use that passion and gift for His glory. She is someone who is known for her honesty and transparency that brings light to difficult situations and feelings, and offers hope and encouragement for the journey of life. It is her hope that by sharing her journey, it encourages, challenges, inspires, comforts, and most importantly, shines the light of Jesus and the reality of His love, grace, and mercy. You can find more from Megan at www.meganjsinisi.com And @meganjsinisi on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.