For our struggle is not against flesh and blood. (Eph. 6:12)
Expanded Passage: Ephesians 6:10-18
Life can be defined as a battle. At times people can cause pain, and circumstances seem insurmountable, but we can’t go far in life without also being reminded that a spiritual battle is going on, and often we are in the line of fire.
If you are going to be strong in the Lord, you will be required to “take your stand” (v. 11). You need to draw boundary lines and declare you will not cross them. Right and wrong matter to you. Principles guide your choices. Convictions will not be compromised.
After you have taken your stand, you will be challenged, and you must “stand your ground” (v. 13). It is not easy to hold the high ground. Culture will be against you. Your peers will live by different standards. Standing your ground may be more difficult than taking your stand.
When your spiritual resolve is wrapped in the armor of God and the enablement of the Holy Spirit, you can “stand firm” (v. 14). But the battle rages on, and you will show your greatest strength when, “after you have done everything, [you] stand” (v. 13). You have prayed. You have trusted. You have set your resolve. You have done what you can. All you can do now is stand—undefeated, unbroken, unyielding.
You are winning the battle. Keep standing!
Take your stand, stand your ground, and stand firm in the battle.
Ken Heer was an ordained minister with The Wesleyan Church prior to his death in 2016. He served as a pastor, educator, and church leader for more than forty years, helping people grow in Christ.
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
