As many people celebrate Halloween as a festive holiday, though there is not necessarily anything wrong with doing so, it is still a good time to be reminded that there is spiritual warfare going on continuously around us. Here is a reminder of its presence:

WORD Satan rules a rogue nation in one small corner of God’s cosmos. But to us, it’s not a faraway corner; we were born in it. It is exceedingly relevant to our lives. It affects us every day, constraining our choices and influencing our personalities. We were born as its citizens, destined to die when it is overthrown. But we have found a way of escape: We can flee as refugees into the safe asylum of Jesus.
His Kingdom will grant us protection. Paul tells Timothy that everyone—no exceptions—who wants to live a godly life will face persecution. This is one of God’s promises we rarely claim by faith, but it is certain anyway. It’s a solid guarantee: We will be harassed within our born-again hearts and harassed on the outside by a campaign of misinformation and even physical threats. Temptations aim to dissuade us from our holy calling, and people try to convince us that we need to conform to their wishes and their corrupt world.
The battle wasn’t over the day we placed our faith in Jesus. It had only just begun. Evil doesn’t die without a fight, and sometimes the fight can be really nasty. Satan’s tactics aren’t fair; lawlessness is one of his core attributes. We might as well get used to his attempts to hit us below the belt. We cannot turn a blind eye to his tactics. The only sure way to resist them is to be aware of them. Our awareness will turn us to the refuge of Jesus at exactly the right times.
IN DEED Do you wonder why you struggle? Are you disheartened because you thought the Christian life was easier than this? Avoid such illusions. You’re in a war. Maybe you didn’t realize that when you joined the Kingdom, but you will have to realize it now. The good news is that the only harm that can come to you in this battle is temporary, and the only victory Satan can win is psychological. Real victory, lasting victory, is certain. It is our inheritance. Do not be disheartened. Stand firm. The day of triumph is coming. “The Christian life is not a playground; it is a battleground.” – Warren Wiersbe (in “God with Us” by Chris Tiegreen)

Being on a frontline of missions in Southeast Asia, I can attest that the testimonies of spiritual warfare are prevalent and very real. But even in Seattle, I had also experienced spiritual warfare in the past. We must never be ignorant or complacent of this reality; indeed, we must constantly maintain our vigilance.
If you need to be reminded of this spiritual reality, take time to read Ephesians 6 and 1 Peter 5. But we need not fear, for as this week’s devotion reminds us, the authority of Jesus is far greater than Satan’s, and while we may face battles, we can be assured that the war has already been won. Have a blessed and secure week abiding in the Lord! – from Singapore, Pastor Sam