Friday Fight 217: Victory in the Valley - Strength Born Through Surrender
Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF217.
What comes to mind when we hear the phrase spiritual warfare? I’m no expert on the topic, but over the last 20 years, I’ve learned more than I ever thought I would and often more than I wanted to. One of the most surprising lessons? To position ourselves in a fighting stance against the enemies of our souls, we must first submit. Yes, before we can fight, we must surrender.
That may sound contradictory. How can we stand and surrender at the same time? In God’s kingdom, strength often begins with surrender. This act of submission is not a sign of weakness; it’s the key to aligning ourselves with God’s authority and accessing His power.
Victory in the Valley: Strength Born Through Surrender
Let me begin with this: spiritual warfare begins in the mind. Fighting against it is an intentional action rooted in the truth of God, under the authority of Christ, and guided by the Holy Spirit. Spiritual warfare is not about emotional outbursts or yelling into the void as if darkness were hard of hearing. Nor is it about fearfully anticipating the future. Many times, those experiencing spiritual warfare don’t even fully understand what it is in order to fight against it.
True spiritual battle requires alignment using God's divine tools to not only survive attacks but to push back darkness with these four powerful weapons:
Prayer:
Prayer is our first line of defense. It is not the least we can do—it is the most! Beginning with prayer invites God's presence and power into our lives. In prayer, we receive His strength, His clarity, and His peace. Through it, we intercede for others and anchor ourselves in His presence.
The Word:
God’s Word equips us to stand against the lies and manipulation of the enemy. Satan’s primary tactic is deception, but Scripture exposes that darkness. When we let the Word shape our mindset, we gain discernment and confidence. It helps us rise above accusations and confusion, allowing truth to influence our actions.
Praise:
Praise is powerful. It shifts the spiritual atmosphere by lifting our focus off the storm and placing it on God. The heaviness in our hearts is replaced with hope when we praise. It’s impossible to truly give thanks while also complaining. As we raise our voices in praise, we’re declaring the goodness of God, regardless of our situation. Praise is a declaration of faith, not a reaction to feelings.
Love:
Love is the most powerful weapon in spiritual warfare. It protects your heart from bitterness, division, and retaliation. While hate destroys, love heals. Without love, our weapons lose their power because God is love. When we share His love, light invades the darkest of places. Love silences the accuser and brings peace to our hearts and minds.
When we bring these four weapons together—prayer, the Word, praise, and love—as a strategy for righteous resistance, their combined force makes the devil flee. However, there is one essential condition: these weapons only function when we are fully submitted to God’s will, and our hearts are aligned with His. As James 4:7 reminds us, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” When we submit to God:
Our prayers become powerful.
His Word becomes our sword.
Our praise becomes a weapon of joy.
Love disarms the enemy’s schemes and draws others to God.
Let this encourage you today: Surrender daily, resist intentionally, and faithfully use the weapons God has given you. Victory is not just possible; victory in the valley is promised through Him!
In 2020, the Holy Spirit placed the four bold words on my daughter Rylee’s heart as she prepared to preach to a group of youth. This post expands on these sermon points—four powerful truths about fighting darkness effectively and righteously.
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In His Grace,
Pastor Shannon and
Rylee Gragg
River Church