Friday Fight 230: Our Spiritual Protective Gear

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF230.

When we find ourselves in a difficult season, what is our first course of action? Some of us may hit the gym more or try to get extra sleep. On the other hand, some of us may also hit the couch as soon as we get home. We all have different ways of coping with difficult seasons. But what does embracing hardship look like, and what elements could be missing from a much-needed protective covering? We don’t want to merely survive, but to thrive, using a spiritual checklist.

Our Spiritual Protective Gear:

I was recently praying for a friend going through a difficult season. Our church is currently in the book of James, and it guided what God placed on my heart to share with her. In order to speak life, we have to wear peace—but how do we do that?

Consider the following spiritual checklist as a protective covering, especially when these are practiced collectively throughout the day:

WORSHIP:

Worship is how we saturate our atmosphere with praise. Whether it’s singing, humming, or simply speaking words of adoration, it’s like releasing a beautiful fragrance into our home, car, or workplace—one that reminds us and others of God’s goodness.

SCRIPTURE:

Reading Scripture daily helps cover our minds with Truth. God’s Word covers our minds and transforms our hearts. A single verse can cut through the enemy’s lies and anchor us in truth. We can read a Bible passage or a devotional and memorize verses for times in need.

PRAYER:

Talking to our Creator allows our spirit to be covered with a heavenly conversation, a connection that invites God to shape our minds. In prayer, we receive God's wisdom and peace, but we have to pause and listen. Prayer becomes a spiritual pause button—especially in moments when we’re tempted to respond in spiritually unhealthy ways. This time is intentional, not just for speaking, but for listening.

MOVEMENT:

This may be a surprising component of a protective covering, but we were created to move, and it not only strengthens our bodies but also our spirits. This isn’t just about health; it is about regulating our emotions and maintaining clarity of mind. When our emotions are regulated and our minds are clear, we can hear God more clearly. We could go for a walk and allow God to lift the spiritual fog.

DISCERNMENT:

As Christians, we all struggle with discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit amid the noisy lies of the enemy. But it is through repeated experiences and reflection that our hearts grow in discernment. Something to keep in mind is that the enemy's lies are deceptively almost true, but believing them means we must agree with deception. Daily reflection will help us notice any “half-truths” or negative thoughts that we have allowed to remain.

If you are in or approaching a challenging season, pray and consider incorporating these practices into your daily routine. This checklist can be used to identify areas where we may be lacking in or ones that provide the best coverage for a specific struggle. What part of your spiritual covering has felt weaker lately? For my friend, implementing these revealed a perspective change even before her circumstances did.

In spiritually heavy seasons, our thoughts can become loud, and our peace can feel fragile. But God has given us spiritual gear to cover and strengthen us. Let’s not just react—let’s respond with intentional faith. As James reminds us: "Consider it pure joy... whenever you face trials... because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." (James 1:2–3) This week, let’s gear up with God and grow stronger in the process. Let’s work together to see which of these protective parts we could start implementing today.

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In His Grace,

Pastor Shannon

River Church