In Week 4 of The Good Fight series, Tori Newman taught us that we must recognize our true enemy and intentionally “get dressed daily” with the full armor of God to stand firm against spiritual attacks. She reminded us that prayer activates the armor and transforms us from being dressed for battle to being ready for war. This message was recorded live on October 19th, 2025.

Recognizing Your True Enemy: A Guide to Spiritual Warfare

In a world filled with division and conflict, it’s easy to get caught up fighting the wrong battles. Whether it’s political disagreements, workplace tensions, or family disputes, we often find ourselves in constant conflict with the people around us. But what if the real enemy isn’t who we think it is?

Who Is Your Real Enemy?

The apostle Paul, writing to the church in Ephesus, makes a startling declaration: “For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

This revelation changes everything. People are not our enemy – not those who vote differently, cheer for opposing teams, or even those who don’t share our faith. Our true enemy is spiritual: Satan and his forces who seek to destroy what God is building in our lives.

The Danger of Fighting the Wrong Enemy

When we focus our energy on fighting people instead of spiritual forces, we become distracted from the real battle. It’s like arguing with fellow soldiers while the actual enemy advances and takes ground. The enemy doesn’t need much – just a small opening, like a mouse finding a tiny hole, to establish a foothold in our lives.

When we put our guard up against people, we let our guard down against our true enemy. This is exactly what Satan wants – division and distraction among believers.

How Do We Prepare for Spiritual Battle?

Paul’s solution is clear: we must put on the full armor of God daily. This isn’t a one-time event but a daily discipline of spiritual preparation.

Getting Dressed Daily

Just as we wouldn’t leave the house without getting dressed physically, we shouldn’t start our day without putting on spiritual armor. When you said yes to Jesus, you became a target. The enemy is coming whether you’re ready or not – so let’s be ready.

Consider starting each day with a morning declaration, standing and speaking these truths over your life:

• “Today I choose to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power”
• “I put on the whole armor of God to stand against the devil’s schemes”
• “I am prepared for battle in Jesus’ name”

What Does the Armor of God Include?

Paul breaks down six essential pieces of spiritual armor in Ephesians 6:14-17:

The Belt of Truth

Truth serves as the foundation for all other armor. This isn’t “your truth” or “my truth” but THE truth – God’s Word. Knowing truth doesn’t prevent attacks, but it provides the solid foundation everything else is built upon.

The Breastplate of Righteousness

The breastplate protects vital organs, and righteousness protects our spiritual heart. Righteousness means aligning our actions with God’s will – everything we say and do coming into alignment with His purposes. Like Abraham, who was called righteous because his actions aligned with God’s will, we must continually realign ourselves with God’s truth.

The Shoes of Peace

These shoes ensure that everywhere we walk, we bring the good news of the gospel. We might not enter peaceful situations, but there should be peace within us and peace when we leave because we carry the gospel with us.

The Shield of Faith

Roman shields were soaked in water before battle to extinguish flaming arrows. Our faith acts similarly – it doesn’t require seeing to believe, but trusting the One who spoke the promises. Faith protects us against the enemy’s attacks by anchoring us in God’s character rather than our circumstances.

The Helmet of Salvation

This protects our minds – the battlefield where many spiritual wars are won or lost. Salvation transforms, renews, and protects our thoughts. We must take every thought captive and make it submissive to Christ, comparing each thought to God’s truth.

The Sword of the Spirit

This is our only offensive weapon – the Word of God. But it’s not meant to be used against people or twisted to support our preferences. It’s designed to combat the enemy’s lies and show us how to live. The enemy knows Scripture too, so we must know it better, meditating on it and letting it transform us.

The Power of Persistent Prayer

Paul concludes his armor description with a crucial element: “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” (Ephesians 6:18).

Praying at All Times

This means praying when we’re happy and when we’re sad, when we’re making decisions and when we’re celebrating victories. Prayer isn’t just for desperate moments – it should be regular, not rare.

Prayer changes everything, even if sometimes the only thing that changes is us. The goal isn’t always to change our circumstances but to align ourselves with God’s will and maintain relationship with Him.

Making Prayer a First, Not Just a Last Resort

Instead of treating prayer like a “Hail Mary” – a desperate last attempt – make it your first response. Bookmark your days with prayer, starting and ending in conversation with God.

Life Application

This week, commit to daily spiritual preparation. Each morning, stand and put on the full armor of God through declaration and prayer. Identify any relationships where you’ve been fighting people instead of praying for them – remember, it’s hard to stay angry with someone you’re consistently praying blessings over.

Make prayer regular rather than rare. Instead of only turning to God in crisis, develop a consistent prayer life that includes both speaking to God and listening for His voice.

Questions for Reflection:

• Who have I been treating as an enemy that I should instead be praying for?
• How can I make putting on God’s armor a daily habit rather than an occasional practice?
• What would change in my relationships if I truly believed people aren’t my enemy?
• How can I move from crisis-driven prayer to consistent, relationship-building prayer with God?