Excerpts from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil
Chapter 1: Spirituality
Paul says in Ephesians 4:22–23 (NLT), “Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” Paul is teaching us, the Spirit has the ability to actively renew our thoughts and attitude, inspiring us to make more good choices. It will give us the courage to make fewer bad choices, influenced by our own personal desires, and the desires of Satan. First John 5:19 (NLT) says, “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under control of the evil one.” Ephesians 2:2 (NLT) says, “You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.”
Chapter 3: Satan, the Enemy
Paul gives witness to his own spiritual battles in Romans 7:21–25 (NLT), by saying, “I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.” Paul, a devoted follower of Christ, is struggling with a power within him that is at war with his mind. This gives testimony that the spiritual battle doesn’t end because we decide to follow Christ. To the contrary, the battle gets more intense.
Author’s comments: What do your thoughts and attitudes say about your heart? If you’re not changing, you’re not growing. Dig deep into the scriptures with an open heart and mind. Only God’s Word can convict your heart and mind. Do you like who you are or would you love to be who God says you are? You control your destiny. Change only comes if you desire to change!
Don’t hesitate to reach out; Bruce would love to help you grow in your spiritual journey! To contact Bruce personally, go to battlecrygoodvsevil.com. Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes. To get the weekly blogs, be sure to “like” and “follow” Battle Cry on Facebook.