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You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. -1 John 4:4 (NIV)

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. -II Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

Though it won’t win any awards, the 1983 movie Superman III has a scene where an evil Superman fights and attempts to destroy Clark Kent in a junkyard, putting him a car compactor and even a metal shredder.

Looking back, that scene reminds me of the spiritual warfare that happens internally and externally. When external circumstances are hitting you on every side, and you feel like you’re in a car compactor, with no way out, there are two battles taking place.

The outside battle

There are enemies pounding at your gates from all sides. They’re relentless. They seem unbeatable.

The battle within

Then there’s the enemy within: original sin that was passed down from Adam, through every descendant, including you. The enemy will use that sin to cause you to doubt, to punish yourself, to tell you lies about God’s love and support for you.

There is no battle.

If you lose that battle within, your gates will fall. But if you surrender the outcome to God, and lift up His name and give Him your burdens, He will carry you to a victory that will glorify Him.

Stop fighting a fight that’s already won. Don’t give the enemy any more power, because He cannot make us do anything, but only whisper in our ears. Be still and give the outcome to God. Let Him take the burden off your shoulders, the weight off your chest, and breathe. God’s got this.