I am in a war. Wiccans are cursing me for writing about spiritual witchcraft. The gay agenda is publishing nasty articles about me for suggesting that man lying with man is a sin. Christians with bold religious spirits are sending me condemning emails because I drink coffee and don’t give away my books for free.
Sometimes it just seems to come from all sides. Sometimes it seems to come from all sides at once. Sometimes in midst of the onslaught it feels like you are fighting alone. And sometimes you really are battling without a prayer partner who could help put an additional 9,999 demons to flight.
Indeed, for all the good-intentioned Christians who tell you they are standing with you and praying for you, far fewer actually follow up on the intercessory initiative. After all, they are also in a war. And they’ve got stuff flying at them too.
But if you feel like you are fighting alone, take heart. You aren’t the only one who ever felt this way. And you aren’t really alone. No, not really.
All Forsook Me
Paul once told his spiritual son, Timothy: “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them” (2 Tim. 4:16). Elijah was convinced he was fighting alone. He once told the Israelites, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men” (1 Kings 18:22). And after defeating the false prophets on Mt. Carmel, twice Elijah told the Lord, “I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (1 Kings 19:10, 14).
David knew what it was like to fight alone. He fought the lion alone. He fought the bear alone. And he was the only one among the Israelites who wasn’t afraid to stand up to Goliath alone (1 Sam. 17). Some of David’s mighty men also knew what it felt like to fight alone. After the men of Israel retreated, Eleazar arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was stuck to the sword (2 Sam. 23:9-10). Can you imagine? Another time, when the Israelites fled from the Philistines, Shammah stationed himself in the middle of a pea field the enemy was looking to occupy. He defended it and killed the Philistines all by himself (vv. 11-12).
Feelings vs. Reality
Sometimes you may be fighting alone. But many times it just feels like you are standing solo. Elijah, for example, had a wrong perception of the warfare. He was on the run from Jezebel and her witchcrafts. She released a word curse over him carrying fear that struck his heart (1 Kings 19:2). He left his servant, who likely would have warred with him, behind and went into hiding. These are the moves of one weary from battle who feels they are fighting alone.
But the Lord set Elijah straight: “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18). Friends, you may be fighting your battle alone, but remember that the Lord has many others who are also taking a stand for righteousness.
When you feel like you are fighting alone, pray for all those who are going through a similar battle and have no one to stand in the gap for them. In other words, get your focus off yourself and intercede for someone else. God can move on a total stranger’s heart to intercede for you.
The Lord Is a Warrior
David’s mighty men were indeed fighting alone from a natural perspective, but it’s clear that the Lord’s anointing was upon them. Make no mistake, the battle is the Lord’s (1 Sam. 17:47). But He often uses us as His warriors in the natural realm as a battle-ax (Jer. 51:20). When you go to battle in faith for His purposes, the anointing will meet you and you will overcome, even if you have to fight alone.
The Bible makes it clear in Eleazar’s case that “the Lord brought about a great victory that day” (2 Sam. 23:10) and again in Shammah’s case that “the Lord brought about a great victory” (v. 12). These men were indeed fighting alone, but they didn’t curl up into a fetal position and whine about it. They stepped out into God’s will as battle-axes, and the Lord anointed them to do mighty exploits for His glory. He can do the same for you.
As for Paul, at his first defense, when no one stood with him, note the preface to his statement and the conclusion. Maybe you can relate: “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia … Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm” (2 Tim. 4:10, 14).
Paul truly did fight alone at times. But listen to Paul’s response to all this spiritual warfare, and set your mind to take the same approach when you meet with betrayal, abandonment, false accusations and persecution—or any other warfare—for the sake of Christ:
“But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” (vv. 17-18)
Some days it may feel like you are fighting alone. From a natural perspective, you may be. But the Lord is faithful. This battle is ultimately the Lord’s, and when you stand for Him—and when all hell breaks loose against you for that stance—He will strengthen you! He will anoint you! He will deliver you! He will preserve you! Amen!
Jennifer LeClaire is news editor at Charisma. She is also the author of several books, including Breakthrough! You can email Jennifer at [email protected] or visit her website here.
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