Tug of War

“We’re not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. No, this fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against supernatural powers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 VOICE)

I once watched an impromptu, tug-of-war game at a church picnic. The participants were sorted into teams. They lined up, grabbed their side of the rope, and pulled. There didn’t seem to be any particular strategy. The game was over in a few minutes.  They all laughed amiably and went back to grab more food. A few years later, I watched a game of tug-of-war between two professional teams. Each member had a specific position based on size. The strongest guy was at the back with the rope wrapped around his body. There was constant communication among the teammates. All the guys pulled in unison, digging their heels into the ground, and leaning back as far as they could. There was a practiced rhythm to what they were doing. This was a far cry from what I had witnessed at the church picnic. 

“The purpose of prayer is not to persuade or influence God, but to join forces with Him against the enemy.” ( S. D. Gordon)

The tug-of-war between good and evil is not like a casual game at a picnic. This fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against supernatural powers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked, spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places. Through prayer, we get to join forces with God against the enemy. We must be strategic. We need to practice listening and working with God. Perseverance is key. Christ, our anchor, does most of the heavy lifting. Our part is to dig in our heels, lean back, and pull with Him until victory is won.