One night, our cleansing stream discipleship leader walked into our class and asked the question, “What’s on your sword?”
He talked about a situation in his family he’d been praying about, and said he felt the Lord impress upon him to pray a certain scripture over the situation.
He did it for months, and he had just witnessed the mountain of that situation fall, and what God had promised come to pass.
He asked us again, “What’s on your Sword?”
The Sword of the Spirit
The sword he was speaking of was the sword of the spirit mentioned in Ephesians 6.
I’ll read the passage I’m referring to, it’s Ephesians 6:10-18 snd all scripture in this podcast is from the New King James Version.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Some Examples of Using the Sword of the Spirit
I want to give you some examples of how we can stand, how we can remain spiritually strong, how we can use the power of scripture or the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, in our own lives.
The first example is while at Bible college, I was really struggling through some spiritual battles. One day after class, some of the staff gathered around me to pray.
One woman looked at me and said, “I feel like you need to ask God for a scripture regarding this situation, then keep that in front of you at all times.”
It was, as I asked the Lord for that scripture, kept it in front of me, prayed it and spoke it, that the Lord helped me overcome that situation and keep moving forward.
Keep it in Front of You
Another person from Bible college had people speaking negative things into his life. They didn’t believe he could do what he felt God had called him to.
So, he asked the Lord for a scripture and put it in his pocket.
Whenever the doubts came, whenever the voices of the naysayers got loud, he pulled that scripture out and looked at it once again. It gave him the courage to keep moving forward into what God had called him to do.
Use the Sword of the Spirit to Guard Your Thoughts
Another way that we can use the sword of the spirit is to guard our thoughts.
Philippians 4:8 Says,
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are, noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there’s any virtue, and if there’s anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.
It’s so easy to meditate on the circumstances, on the things people are saying or doing.
Using the Sword of the Spirit
- So, ask the Lord for a scripture and keep that in front of you.
- Declare that scripture, speak it aloud.
- Pray that scripture back to God.
- Keep it in your pocket like my friend, or somewhere you can always see it.
- And when the voices come, voices of discouragement or naysayers, or the lies of the enemy come, saying, this will never end; pull that scripture out and declare that over your situation.
- Pray it.
- Praise God that His word is true, and that His word will come to pass.
So, Philippians 4:8 tells us to meditate on the good things and what better good thing to meditate on than the word of God.
Will This Situation Ever End?
And I want to address the question of will this ever end?
Because when you are going through some hard things, it’s easy to think that this will never end. And that’s one thought that I’ve had to fight off myself with situations that have happened and gone on in my own life.
And when I asked that question, a scripture came to my mind, it’s Mark 13:31
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.
Dear sister, this mountain shall fall.
These circumstances shall fall away.
And at the end of time, the only thing that will be left standing is God’s word.
The Sword of the Spirit and Healing
Psalm 107:20 says,
He sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
God’s word can bring healing to our souls, minds, hearts, and emotions.
There was a situation in my own life where I wrote down a scripture and I repeated that scripture out loud for several minutes each day.
And I did this for months.
The Lord used it to heal my thought processes, my mind and my behavior concerning a certain situation.
The situation hadn’t changed, but my mind had changed, and I had peace.
Renew Your Mind with the Sword of the Spirit
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
That is one way that I renewed my mind, by keeping my mind on that one scripture for months until the Lord changed me.
The situation didn’t change right away, but He gave me such a piece about it that I have never worried about it like I did before taking that scripture in.
What’s on your Sword?
Dear sister, situations and circumstances may go on longer than we want them to. But remember. God has already spoken His Word into motion. Agree with His Word by putting it on your sword.
Pray that Word back to God.
Look at that Word, keep it in your eyes.
Keep it in front of you.
Thank God for His Word and that He is moving.
It will give you the strength to keep moving forward and eventually see the promises of God come to pass in your life.
Can I pray for you today?
Father God, I pray for my dear sister in Christ.
You know, the situations she’s been struggling with. You know, the circumstances that look like great mountains in front of her.
Lord, give her a scripture or promise regarding that situation. Give her the wisdom to know what to do. Direct her steps, Lord, and help her to keep her eyes on that scripture, instead of on the circumstances. Help her to keep her trust in You while she puts your promises that you’ve given her on her sword, as she declares the Word, as she prays the Word, as she thanks you for it and keeps it in front of her. Show her, Father, the promise that needs to be on her sword and on her lips. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
© Carolyn Rice 2022
Thank you, Carolyn. I needed to read this today. ❤️
Thank you Connie:) That is so encouraging to me.
Thanks to your love to write I know where to begin. Be encouraged Carolyn.
Thank you Ramona!