Captive No More: Freedom From Pain, Shame and GuiltSample

# Fortress of Spiritual Warfare > “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” > Hebrews 2:14-15 I love the Bible’s imagery of war, battle, and armoring up for the fight. God calls it like it is; it’s a war, and as the saying goes, war is hell. Well, in this case, we are at war with hell’s legion of demons. But, unlike earthly encounters where victory is never certain until the battle is done, we already know who raised the flag of victory. Jesus Christ reigns supreme because He’s already won the war. And by His authority over Satan, we are victors too. Then why are we still struggling you might ask, and sometimes it feels like we’re losing? It’s simple, the devil doesn’t throw victory parties for believers. He’s also tenacious and refuses to give up until he’s finally locked away in the lake of fire. God gives us everything we need for spiritual warfare. It’s His suit of armor, and it is invincible. Our battle to gain independence from our past isn’t against other people. No one can make you live in your memories. Sure, they can remind you of certain times in your life, but they don’t hold the power to return you. These shackles remain entrenched in your mind and are why transforming your thought-life is critical to freedom. Prayer is an important fortress, and it is also the direct line of communications with our 4-star general in times of warfare. God is your hope and your salvation. Remaining in close contact with Him during the battle will ensure your victory over the enemy. If we armor up, pray, praise, and persevere, we will be delivered from the attacks that have stopped us from seeking healing for our past pain. ## Call To Action 1. Write out in detail what your spiritual armor looks like in a natural sense. 2. Write out a situation where you thought hope was lost, but you continued to praise God for every little step until you’d come through it. 3. Write out in detail an experience where God’s healing or grace took longer than you had hoped, but when you had been delivered, what lesson was learned.