Powers: arming the believer for spiritual battle - Mike Brakken

Sometime in the middle of the night I woke up, writes Mike Brakken in Powers.

I couldn't breathe.

I couldn't move.

I couldn't even move my eyes.

It felt like a weight of unimaginable strength was pressing down on me and paralyzing me.

I was sure I was going to die.

Even more terrifying, I felt a presence.

I couldn't see anything, but I could feel palpable evil around me.

I was overwhelmed and terrified, and it felt like there was nothing I could do.

I don't even remember if I prayed.

For some, the term spiritual warfare conjures up images of horror movies and Hollywood demons.

That is not how the Bible sees it; spiritual warfare is simply part of the Christian life.

From the moment of salvation to the return of Christ, our lives are war, conflict and struggle.

Writing from a missionary's perspective, Brakken reminds us that temptation proceeds not only from our own hearts but also from the voice of a spiritual enemy.

It is a war, but we don't have to go into it unprepared.