Armed Against DepressionSample

Day Seven: Sword of the Spirit

In the current state of warfare, the sword has been replaced by rifles and guns, something that every soldier must become intimately connected with in order to fight the enemy.

When new recruits show up for boot camp, one thing they encounter right away is the beginning of a psychological shift where their rifle is now an integral part of life. The goal is for each soldier to become so attached to their personal weapon that they feel uncomfortable without it.

Each person is given a rifle and told to never let it be more than an arm’s length away. At all times, the location of their personal weapon needs to be known. Soldiers even report waking up in the night in a panic, minds racing to make sure they know where their weapon is.

When marching and drilling many service members strap their rifle to their body to ensure that it always remains in their arms. Each person in formation carries their weapon in different positions. By doing this, their bodies become accustomed to being able to change positions and keep their weapon at the most opportune angle. In a moment of attack, each person must immediately know what to do and how best to defend their position.

Recruits are trained in all different ways to utilize their weapon: how to fight in hand-to-hand combat and the ways the various parts of it can be dangerous to the enemy.

After using their weapon, each soldier must spend time cleaning it and making sure it is well cared for. As they live each day with their weapon, it becomes like a part of their body, something that is an extension of who they are. Cleaning their weapon becomes a therapeutic practice since this invaluable piece of equipment has become like a close companion.

In the same way, the Scriptures are to become so familiar and so a part of our daily lives that we never let them out of our sight. With the word of God strapped tightly to our minds, we can advance against Satan, not just to protect ourselves but to rescue and defend others.

Read the Bible every day. Memorize it and may it become so familiar you wake up meditating on it. I can assure you the enemy will attack you with his psychological games. The harshness of life will be coming for you, too. It’s important not just to know the words of the Bible but their deeper meaning. As you can see, Satan even tried to use the Bible against Jesus. He knows it well. You need to know it better than he does.

To do: Choose Scriptures that address your daily needs at the present and post them around your house, carry them in your wallet or purse, and ask others to remind you of them. Talk to other believers and tell them you need support.

Jesus, I pray you would help us to continually strengthen our use and understanding of your supernatural words. May your Scriptures become so familiar to our hearts and minds that Satan will have no way to advance against us. Help us to draw together as a unified company of soldiers, able to defend each other and move against our great enemy.