Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. 2 Corinthians 2:10-11
How is your spiritual fitness? Are you ignorant of the enemy’s designs to keep you in the ‘dark’ about what they are doing? What can you do to become more spiritually fit? Are you unaware of the spiritual realm swirling around you at all times? Are you blind to the devices of the enemy against you? What are you doing to become aware of the spiritual realm and it’s effect on the atmosphere around you? How are you becoming a ‘change agent’ for the atmospheres you encounter everyday?
Are you aware of the ‘time(s)’ and seasons (spiritually)? Are you purposely blindly walking through your days because you just ‘don’t want to know’ anything ‘negative’? Do you scoff at those who are called in the Body of Christ to the role of a ‘watchman’? There is a big push by the enemy to keep the Body of Christ ignorant of what is actually going on in the spiritual realm around them. What are you doing to be ready when the battle descends into your street or home?
Humbly, I submit what I think is necessary for spiritual fitness. Just like in the military they send the new recruits to a ‘boot camp’ to make them ready for the coming battles they will be asked to enter, and the boot camp training is to lesson the risk of getting themselves killed or others around them. The military boot camp is to increase their battle fitness physically, mentally, and emotionally. What are you doing spiritually for the coming battles that are going to show up in your life?
We need warriors with this skill …
Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do,
1 Chronicles 12:32
Here are five areas that need to be considered… (Definitely not an exhaustive list)
1. Prayer readiness. This is where you actually have learned to hear His Voice and you have actual conversations with the Holy Spirit in your mind. This becomes a daily, moment by moment conversation where the Holy Spirit leads you to pray per His instructions for His purposes. This discipline is as vital as sniper training. Learning how hit the mark at a great distance by being VERY proficient at listening to His instructions on what to aim at, and to only pull the trigger when He tells you to. Prayer becomes an ongoing conversation with HQ on the heavenly intel and instructions. You must learn to speak only the words He gives you and no more.
2. Spiritual intel readiness. This is having studied the enemies tactics and plans and read your General’s planned response. This is knowing the written Word (Bible / scriptures) intimately. This is an on-going process just like as one navigates into different territories and situations. This will require daily and moment by moment instructions coming the the HQ (Holy Spirit). What portion of the Word (plan) does He want to remind you about? Why? And how are you to carry out your assignment for the day pertaining to the Word He just reminded you about?
3. Physical readiness. Yes, our physical fitness and body are a part of this equation of being spiritual fit. The discipline of fasting should be part of your training. Learning how to have rule over your body’s triggers, desires, and appetites by your choice (will). This means proper nutrition, and physical exercise to be part of your training routine. Many dismiss this prerequisite of their training to their own peril.
4. Soul readiness. This is where the Holy Spirit has been allowed by you to plant His fruit deep into your life. And all the lessons pertaining to each fruit and the requirements of tending that fruit to grow it into maturity in your life. (Galatians 5:22-23 — there are nine) Soul readiness also means emotional maturity. This is learning how to allow the Holy Spirit to teach you how to control your responses to the emotions you are feeling. Soul readiness also means having control over the battlefield in your mind. There is a discipline that needs to be learned on how to bring EVERY thought captive to Christ.
5. Troop readiness. You WILL have to navigate these battles with other soldiers who are in the same fox hole, trench, open field, or bunker with you. You must learn how to recognize what your role is in the troop as well as the gifting of the soldiers around you. You must learn how to encourage one another, support one another, and lift up one another when they are injured. Confessing your ‘faults’ [James 5:16] (real honest vulnerability — is one of the hardest things to do) one to another is a way bringing the bonds to the level they are needed for the intense battles ahead that all of you will go through together.
Can you see the signs? Do you feel the intensity rising? Is He asking you to prepare? How does He want you to prepare? Has the Lord asked you to join a ‘boot camp’ where you will be severely challenged to learn new skills? Sitting in a regular “Church service” is NOT a boot camp. I might liken a ‘church service’ as a ‘general briefing’ but never anything specific to your individual needed training. And unfortunately, often so many of those institutional ‘church services’ are ‘old intel’ and not pertaining to the current battle at hand that is raging in and around your life. You need to find a troop of soldiers that is pushing themselves to levels they’ve never achieved before.
There is a HUGE difference between the fresh soldier out of boot camp and the seasoned soldier who has navigated many fierce battles and carnage of the spiritual warfare. But everyone must begin somewhere. Look for those humble seasoned battle worn warriors. Listen to their advice. Their wisdom has been learned and earned … and has scars.
Finally.. the biggest need will always be … knowing the Holy Spirit and developing that intimate vital relationship within you. He is the One who will always show you the narrow difficult but necessary ‘path’ you are to take.