Last week, I shared that I had been losing spiritual battles left and right… mostly because I was trying to escape. Not in the sense of looking for a way out — making a wise, well-timed tactical retreat. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
No, I was curling up in a ball in the middle of the battlefield — eyes shut tight, hands over my ears — trying hard to pretend there wasn’t any war. Dreaming I was someplace else, someplace safe and warm and happy. Only I kept getting hit with these fiery darts.
There came a point when I couldn’t pretend anymore. The pain was too excruciating. I had to admit I was hemorrhaging and get help.
I was reminded that since life itself is the warzone, I can’t really escape the fight. I’ve got to strap on my Sword — and the rest of my warrior princess armor — and fight back. Fight hard.
Wield the living, life-changing, powerful, eternal Truth to refute and resist the enemy’s lies.
The trouble is I keep forgetting. Forgetting I’m in a battle, forgetting there are weapons at my disposal, forgetting the Truth. So I made myself a battle strategy book!
If you were part of our summer Bible study — VBS for GrownUpGirls — you might remember this Fun Friday project. I called it a DIY[Do It Yourself] Faith Book. The idea is to take a dollar store photo album and fill it with Scriptures and quotes that speak to you. You can also put in prayer requests or pictures of people you’re praying for.
Then you slip it in your car or your purse or your desk drawer at work. And whenever you need a faith lift, there it is! Whenever you’re stuck waiting in line or with a few minutes to spare, you can work on memorizing your favorite verses or pray over those special needs.
We talked about making a Faith Book as a gift for a friend in the hospital or for your kids or grandkids.
This time I made one for myself… I filled it with verses and quotes on spiritual warfare. I added a few poems and hymn lyrics, excerpts from devotionals and Bible studies I’ve been reading (the stuff I underlined and copied in my journal). I also added a few images that inspire me, most of which you can find on my Women of Valor Pinterest Board…
This time around, I decided to print everything on postcard paper from the office supply store — rather than copy it all by hand onto file cards — because it was cleaner and neater and prettier. And I’ll be honest: it did take several hours to do that.
But it doesn’t have to take hours. It can be super-easy, super-simple. And you don’t have to fill the whole album all at once. Just add things as you run across them!
Below are some of the battle verses I put in my book. I have a free printable download you might also find helpful — 52 Verses on Facing Fear.
“The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make spiritual progress upon my high places of trouble, suffering, or responsibility.” Habakkuk 3:19
“So shall they fear the name of the Lord… and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19
“It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You loved them. You are my King and my God… Through You we push back our enemies; through Your name we trample our foes.” Psalm 44:3-5
“The battle belongs to the Lord…” 2 Chronicles 20:15
“Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies.” Psalm 108:13
“Be watchful. Stand firm in your faith. Be courageous. Be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:12
“But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.” Psalm 3:3
“He is a shield to all who look to Him for protection.” Psalm 18:30
“No weapon formed against you will prosper and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 54:17
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Have you tried making a DIY Faith Book? What do you (or would you) put in? Are there other battle strategies that have worked for you? I’d love to hear about them…
