God’s Love Empowers You to Win Spiritual Battles - The Crosswalk Devotional - October 6

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God’s Love Empowers You to Win Spiritual Battles
By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39, NIV

I remember visiting my mom in the hospital and bringing her a magazine. It was opened to an article about God’s angels when her nurse noticed it sitting beside her bed. That led to a conversation I’ve never forgotten. He told me that several years earlier, while he was in rehab for alcohol addiction, he had gone through intense spiritual battles. During seasons when he spent a long time praying, God sometimes allowed him to see something that’s usually invisible. The nurse said he could actually see both holy angels and fallen angels around him as battles between good and evil were taking place. It was scary to witness spiritual warfare that’s usually unseen, but he also said it filled him with hope because every time he prayed for help, God responded with love by sending holy angels to fight on his behalf. Looking back, the nurse was convinced that, because God never stopped loving him, he was able to win those spiritual battles. The nurse praised God for lovingly empowering him with everything he needed to break free from alcohol addiction.

Whether or not you ever see angels and demons with your physical eyes, the Bible makes it clear that spiritual battles are real. Every day, you face temptations, discouragement, fear, lies, and attacks that try to pull you away from God. Sometimes the battles are obvious. At other times, they happen quietly in your thoughts, your emotions, or the choices you make. The good news is that you never have to fight these battles by yourself.

Romans 8:38-39 promises that nothing can separate you from God’s love – even demons and the most intense spiritual battles you go through. There is absolutely nothing in all creation that is stronger than the love God has for you through Jesus Christ.

When you know that God’s love is constantly there for you, you no longer have to live in fear. Evil wants you to believe that you’re alone, forgotten, or beyond hope. But those are lies. God’s Word tells you that God’s love is much stronger than every spiritual attack on you.

Love is at the core of who God is. Since God loves you completely, he does much more than just watch you struggle from a distance. God comes close to you and strengthens you in all the ways you need strength, so you can win your spiritual battles.

The nurse I met told me that God’s loving care gave him the strength to keep choosing the next best step as he fought spiritual battles. Over time, God’s love empowered him to win the entire war he faced with addiction.

What battles are you fighting right now? Maybe you’re fighting anxiety, bitterness, temptation, loneliness, shame, or some other enemy. Maybe you’re praying for a loved one who seems far from God. Don’t give up! The God who loves you is still at work, even when you can’t see what he’s doing.

Because you’re loved by an all-powerful God, you can keep fighting with courage and confidence – and you can expect to win every single one of your spiritual battles.

So, choose to rest in God’s powerful love for you. Bring every fear that worries you to God in prayer. Remind yourself of God’s powerful promises to you. Keep trusting God to guide you through your battles one step at a time. No matter how challenging the spiritual warfare in your life becomes, nothing can separate you from God’s love. Remembering that reality will give you the strength to overcome every spiritual battle in your life.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider how God’s love empowers you to win spiritual battles, reflect on these questions:

• What spiritual battle are you facing right now that you need to rely on God’s strength to fight?
• How does knowing that nothing can separate you from God’s love give you hope?
• What lies have evil attacks tried to make you believe, and what truths from God’s Word can help you fight those lies?
• In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on God’s strength instead of your own?
• How can you encourage someone else this week with the reminder that God’s love never lets them go?

Further Reading:
Ephesians 6:10-12
1 John 4:4
James 4:7
Psalm 34:7
2 Corinthians 10:3-4

Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Media Whalestock 

Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.

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Encouraging you to love God, others, and yourself—one faithful step at a time.

Each week, host Rachael Adams sits down with inspiring women who are making a difference right where they are. Through honest conversations, biblical wisdom, and real-life stories, you'll be reminded that your everyday acts of love—no matter how small—matter deeply to God.

You were created to live a life of impact.
You were made to be a love offering.