Courageous by Dr. Robert JeffressSample

Take Inventory

So far, our first survival tip is don’t panic. No matter what the situation may be, take a deep breath, remain calm, and remember that God is in control. The second survival tip we looked at is gain situational awareness. As quickly as possible, pay attention to your circumstances and call things as they truly are, not as you wish them to be.

Once you’ve gotten your wits about you and have gained some sense of what is happening, the next step is to take an inventory of your equipment—of what you have or what you can find around you. For survivalists, the difference between life and death, in many cases, is as simple as a map and compass, a knife and fork, or even a flashlight.

God gives you and me an extensive inventory of tools that we can use not only to navigate our challenging times but also to fulfill His calling in our lives. The bad news is that Satan wants to destroy you. The good news is that we have the armor of God as described in Ephesians 6 so that no matter your circumstances, you can be assured that God has supplied you with everything needed for victory. Paul assures believers, “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10–11).

Satan is the ultimate force behind many of the difficulties you and I face every day. Though people today may dismiss or even ridicule the notion of satanic attack, the Bible never does. The apostle Paul couldn’t have been clearer about this when he wrote, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

The equipment God provides is more than enough to defeat the Enemy’s attacks. Whenever we face challenging situations, take inventory of the tools God supplies us and choose ways to apply them to our lives. And we must courageously put on God’s armor and rely on it daily, because spiritual victory only comes to believers who are equipped for the battle.

Put on the full armor of God as Ephesians 6 tells us. Do this daily. Be aware of how you see God’s protection upon your life and how you are combating the enemy’s tactics.