It is absurd to think that someone would consider stepping into a war zone as a solider without being fully equipped to fight. The old saying of never bring a knife to a gun fight holds some great merit. Know the tools you have at your disposal and use them wisely.

Yet, each and every day, Christians march off into battle and fail to use the one tool that stands superior – their sword, the Word of God. We compromise the battle before we step foot onto the battleground simply due to a lack of understanding. Our enemy, the devil, would have it no other way. He doesn’t fear the one who doesn’t know the word – he fears the one who knows it and applies it.

The Bible doesn’t mess around on this topic:

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)

I was reading a story recently in the book of Samuel about the attack from the Philistines on King Saul and the Israelite.  The Philistines began going village to village – not to attack but rather to capture the blacksmiths and stop the production of swords and weapons of war.  The Bible tells us that it got to a point where it was only Jonathan and King Saul who had a sword in the entire nation.  As I read this story, I felt the Holy Spirit remind me that this is the same tactic being deployed by the devil today.  This story was almost prophetic of our ongoing battle with him. The devil is constantly trying to dismantle our sword – the Word of God.

Make no mistake about it, the devil has been up to his sneaky ways for some time now. He is always focusing on trying to get God’s people to ignore the Word of God. It started in week one of man’s existence as he slyly asked Eve if “God really said that?”

Today – he is whispering in your ear the same thing, “Did God really say that? Would God really send someone to hell? Does God really say we can be healed? Does God really care about your happiness?”

Take your pick. The tactic is as clear as day itself; he wants to ask you enough questions and get you to doubt the truth. Doubt becomes a stronghold – and we all know what happens to strongholds.

So what do we do? Stand firm, know the Word.  TRUST the Word.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8 NKJV)

If you hear that horrible little voice whispering words of doubt – about your life, your future, God’s opinion on you – silence it by going to the Word. God’s word will never lead you astray.

Question: How do you stay focused on His word?