Shoring Up Your Weak Points

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13 NIV)

The key to a strong military is recognizing not only strengths, but weaknesses as well.  The British knew they had overwhelming superiority over the colonists in terms of armaments and manpower, but their striking weakness was their inability to adapt to the colonists hit and run attacks.  Their failure in this was one of the main reasons they lost the Revolutionary War.  

As followers of Jesus, we, too, are soldiers in an army at war with a powerful enemy.  And like any worthy opponent, he probes for weaknesses.  The question is not will he find any, but rather will he find them totally unguarded.  

As a young believer, one of my weaknesses was being totally controlled by my feelings.  I would feel down one day and immediately conclude something was wrong with my relationship with the Lord.  Or I would fall into sin and confess it, but still feel guilty and ashamed.  Satan exploited this weakness and kept me on a spiritual rollercoaster for several years. Another was my insecurity as a man, which led me into relationships with women that were unhealthy.  I was desperate for affirmation and approval and sought it through romantic relationships.  Again, the enemy took advantage of this weakness time and time again before I finally recognized it.  

It is the recognition of our weaknesses that is the key to winning the spiritual battles we face.  When we do, we can shore up our defenses against them.  They need not be fatal.  The Apostle Paul, even though we view him as a spiritual giant, had weaknesses and he tells about one of them in II Corinthians 12. He pleaded with the Lord to remove it, but the Lord refused. Instead, He said this, “My power is made perfect in weakness” (II Corinthians 12:9).  Most likely, our weaknesses won’t be removed, but, with the Lord’s help, we can overcome them. But we must recognize them in order to successfully fend off the enemy’s attacks.

So what are your weaknesses?  A sordid past that the devil keeps reminding you of?  An uncontrolled temper?  A bent toward anxiety or fear?  Holding grudges? No matter what weaknesses you have, the Lord is more than able to help you overcome them. 

Today, take some time to think about areas of your life in which you are vulnerable to Satan’s attacks.  Make a list and take it to the Lord, asking Him for help in defending these vulnerable areas.  This will not necessarily stop the attacks, but will insure that you are much better prepared to defend against them.

© Jim Musser 2017