After editing many lessons of a children’s club program over multiple years, I had grown tired of the same lesson themes related to spiritual warfare. Whenever we addressed the issue of Satan, illustrations were usually along the lines of not yielding to temptations to disobey your parents or steal yet another cookie from the cookie jar.

I knew in my spirit there must be more that God wanted children to understand about warfare. So I began researching various Christian authors who addressed spiritual battles and ways Satan is at work in the world, especially his strategies with children. There weren’t many books on the topic back then, but I read enough to understand it was time to warn children with greater urgency about the surrounding evil. They needed assurance that Jesus is their hope and victory.

That night I came home and experienced a form of demonic oppression that convinced me I was on the right track! Warfare suddenly became very real for me—and I knew we needed to make greater strides in teaching children, their parents, and all believers about the dangers they faced by virtue of being a follower of Christ.

We then developed some lessons for the club program that delved into the many ways evil has worked its way into our daily lives, including books, movies, computer games, and experimentation with occult practices.

A Spiritually Healthy Perspective Spiritual warfare is probably best defined by Paul in Ephesians 6, when he speaks of wrestling against spiritual forces of evil and taking a firm stand in the victory of Jesus Christ. Not surprisingly, Christians take different positions on the topic of warfare. Some are consumed with worry and fear, convinced that every struggle they experience is the direct result of demonic influence. They don’t consider the fact that believers are responsible for their own fleshly lusts and desires that lead them into sin.

Others take a more cavalier approach, choosing to ignore the realities of warfare, believing instead that Satan is nothing but a toothless lion who just roars loudly. Both of these views leave believers vulnerable to enemy attack. Paul knew the realities of the spiritual warfare that often engulfed him. He kept his eyes focused on Jesus and always pressed forward, yet he warned fellow believers to stay alert at every moment—putting on both offensive and defensive gear. Paul, perhaps more than anyone else in Christian history, knew that life is war.

In this issue, you will learn about some of Satan’s most treacherous strategies to defeat Christians in their personal lives—and thus hinder the spread of the gospel. Dave Butts helps us identify the four D’s of warfare: doubt, deception, discouragement, and division. Marcus Warner draws on his warfare ministry experiences and writes about legal ground and authority. The theme section closes with a reminder that we’ve got to watch each other’s backs in prayer.

In these spiritually dark times we need to be battle-ready and grow more confident in the wonderful gift of the power of prayer. Rest assured, our victory is in Jesus!

—Carol Madison, editor, Prayer Connect