Have you ever noticed how powerful light is against darkness? You could light a match in a pitch-black room filled with people and though you may not be able to see the faces of the people, everyone would be able to see the little flame on the end of the match.

It is the same in the realm of darkness. The only weapon or defense you have is the light of God within you. Going into battle is not about you fighting against the forces of darkness, it is about you bringing the presence of light into the darkness. Wherever light is, darkness disappears.

When Jesus said, “Let your light shine,” He was being very literal. However, this is not a physical manifestation of light, (although I believe the time will come that many will shine physically like Jesus did on the mount of transfiguration), but the manifestation of the Voice and sight of Jesus within your mind. Our battle is not physical, neither is it in the heavens that the Father dwells in but in the heavenly places that Paul refers to in Ephesians 6. These heavenly places are connected to your soul and this is where transformation into the image of Jesus takes place.

Our battle is not about changing the world, it is about renewing our mind and bringing it into full submission to the mind of Christ. When the WORD, or voice of the Lord, within you takes precedence over every other thought or imagination your light shines in the very heavenly places you are called to conquer. In the realm of the soul WORDS have the appearance of light or darkness. Your fight is against the words or conversations that go on in your mind.

When Jesus said to Pilate that His kingdom is NOT of this world then it would be wise for us to actually know where His kingdom is so that we can fight the fight we are called to fight. He told Pilate that if His kingdom was of this world then His disciples would stand up and fight physically. But this is not how God has planned to bring all things under subjection to Him. Jesus understood that there is a realm that supersedes this one and that everything that exists here on earth comes out of the heavens.

Look at how Jesus created the heavens (heavenly realms) and the earth.

Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and things on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by him and for Him.

For the most part we understand the visible places of authority being governments, organisations and systems that we interact with on a daily basis because we can see them. However, there are invisible governments, systems and organisations that we also interact with, but for the most part we are not aware of their reality. It is these invisible positions of authority that we as the church are called to fight for and occupy. When we do, we will see the victory here on earth. However, if we keep on fighting from the realm of the flesh (physical world) our enemy will maintain his authority over the very places we are trying to conquer.

As the church we will not win and restore this world back to Jesus until we know how to fight in His army. It is the same in your own life. You need to recognize that your husband, wife, children, in-laws, bosses, colleagues, friends, Eskom, ANC, DA, etc., are not your problem, the thoughts that arise to take dominion over you are the REAL problem. The battle is all about submitting every thought, imagination, emotion and reasoning to the Lordship of Jesus, which is to allow His thoughts to be the only thoughts that have authority within you. Jesus put it this way,

Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

His kingdom is within you. His voice is within you. The Holy Spirit is within you. Thoughts and imaginations are within you. Wars, lusts and desires are within you. Righteousness and wickedness arise from the faith or fear that is within you. Everything has its beginning and end WITHIN you. It is when you are able to bring every thought and imagination into the presence of the Lord and then keep them in line with what He has said that your circumstances in this world will begin to change.

I encourage you to think about what is “eating” at you in your heart. Take those thoughts and your imagination before the Lord and lay them at His feet. Imagine yourself doing this. This is how easy it is to go into the realms of heaven, right into the presence of the Father. You go there through your thoughts and imagination. The heavens ARE OPEN right there, inside you. Then, as you find yourself before Him begin to worship and listen for every thought that is filled with mercy, forgiveness, love, kindness, patience, gentleness and long suffering. Remember, God pays no attention to your sin, neither should you. God gives all His attention to Jesus and so should you! 😊

The Cheerful Battle 4

Have a blessed day IN His presence.

Yvonne

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