...Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you... --Hebrews 13:5

     C.S. Lewis understood spiritual warfare. When he wrote "Screwtape Letters", he spoke for millions of Christians through the centuries who found themselves besieged by battles they were not strong enough to win alone.

     Since Eve and Adam, every single human except Jesus Christ has failed in their attempt to honor God on their own. Overcoming sin is not an exercise in willpower, and it's a battle no one ever wins alone.

     But even when we make progress; when we grit our teeth and gut it out through terrible trials or mounting temptation; when we clear the ridge-line on the mountain of self-centeredness; we find that fighting our own sinful natures is only part of the struggle.

     For most of us, the next skirmish line isn't supernatural forces; it's the people around us. Sometimes even the people closest to us. They misjudge our strength, or their own battle with sinful natures causes them to lash out at others, and we suddenly find we're fighting battles on two fronts: Against our natures and against their behaviors. Few of us can long stand in the face of such formidable obstacles. Those who do are left winded and vulnerable.

     THAT'S when Satan moves in with full-on spiritual warfare. Knowing we're winded, knowing we're discouraged, he rifles through our past or present in search of some nugget of sin, some moment of failure and carries it to us to break our resolve. "See," his minions shout in our face, "how dare you think that God would cling to you!"

     Soldiers know this as the most dangerous time in a battle. The smoke from guns or the trees of a jungle or even the corners of urban buildings block their view, and amidst the shouts and weapons and chaos, they feel utterly alone. Their courage is tested and they start to wonder if the rest of their army has retreated and left them alone. Do they stand their ground?

     For Christians in the heat of trial or temptation, it is isolation which brings us to our knees. It is good to speak of community, and it is marvelous to have prayer partners and small groups and even accountability groups. But sooner or later, we all come to a moment when even those closest to us can't be seen; or worse, have been silenced or have chosen to go silent in our struggles.

     It's in this terrible moment that the Spirit of God steps forward to defend His children. As we drop to our knees in fatigue and despair, He rushes past us to shield us from Satan, to shield us from others, to shield us even from our own assaults and self-doubt.

     In the fog of spiritual warfare, never think the battle is ours to win or lose. The path to a peaceful life on earth is easy to find. Do nothing for God and Satan will leave you alone. But if you choose to serve God, then know this: Satan will not rest one day in his effort to rob you of your joy here on earth or take you out of the front lines of service.

     Remember in those moments these words from a pastor's sermon: "Jesus isn't something that's added to our life...He IS our life!"