I remember the story of a boxer who was being pummeled in the ring by his opponent. His opponent left him with a bloody nose, swollen eyes, and a lot of obvious pain. As he sat and rested in his corner between rounds, the battered boxer’s trainer kept trying to encourage him. The trainer would say, “You’re doing great, Fred. That bum is barely touching you.” To which the boxer responded, “Then you better keep your eye on that referee because somebody is killing me.”

You see, no amount of smooth talk could camouflage the reality of the bloody battle in which this fighter was engaged. Nothing the trainer said could mask the pain the boxer was suffering. In the same way, you and I are engaged in a real battle, one of cosmic proportions. We know the battle is real and the opponent ferocious because this world bears the bloody, painful scars of this conflict: wars among nations, shattered lives, broken homes, suicide, and immorality of every imaginable kind. Nevertheless, we must remember that everything visible and physical is the result of something invisible and spiritual. Therefore, only by addressing the invisible, spiritual cause can we fix what is wrong with our visible, physical lives.

Here’s the key to effective spiritual warfare: (Ephesians 6:10-11) “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” It is when God fights the battle for you that you win against the evil one. Victory in spiritual warfare is found in dependence on God. We are at war, but it’s not like other wars. Christ has already won this war. All we have to do is enlist, put on our fatigues and our boots, and pick up our weapons . . . because it’s time to march.

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A FUTURE WITHOUT FEAR

(1 John 4:18) “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Stepping through the door into a New Year should be an exciting experience. Yet for millions of people, the adventure of entering the New Year is overshadowed by fear. The cold breath of fear blows on all ages and seeps into every walk of life. Some people are afraid to go to the supermarket in broad daylight. Others are afraid they might not find a job or might lose the one they have. Parents are afraid the next ring of the phone might bring bad news about their children. Sick people are afraid the doctor might share a negative report the next day they visit his office, and thousands are afraid of the future. Fear, without a doubt, is one of the greatest enemies of successful living. Like a drop of ink in a glass of water, fear is permeating enough to color everything in our lives and future. It can tie us in knots. It can paralyze our thinking and our actions. It can make our lives a living hell.

Despite what we might believe, the opposite of fear is not courage; it is not trust. The opposite of fear is love. (Remember that “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:” - 1 John 4:18.) God has a rich territory, a promised land, with your name on it, and He wants you to charge toward it with a cry of victory, not a wail of fear. I have never seen a timid, cowering prince. Stop living as a helpless street orphan when you bear the credentials of the royal palace. God’s plan for your future is waiting for you.

(Psalm 46:1) “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ² Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;”

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