revelation of the spiritual battle

The Spiritual Battle
 
For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
2 Chronicles 16:9
American Standard Version (ASV)
 
I was sitting in an adult Sunday school class at church and the teacher, Roy, shared about God’s view of worship. He took his message from I Samuel 1:22-34 and Eli’s son’s encounter with a Holy God. Eli’s sons did not honor God with their worship. In fact, they dishonored God, and He punished them with death. As Roy was speaking, he shared a verse from 2 Chronicles 16:9: For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. 2 Chronicles 16:9. As I received those words, a tidal wave of emotions filled my spirit. I wanted to be that one person who God’s eyes were looking for. I wanted to stand up and shout, here I am!
 
Those words came at a time of testing at work, and I drew a line in the sand. I had been working as a librarian in a school for 11 years where Judeo-Christian values were part of the mission. I was growing in my faith and enjoyed sharing with my coworkers what God was doing in my life. However, the school administration changed that fall, and I saw a change from conservative to liberal policies in the school that I couldn’t support. I questioned if it was time to leave my job and trust the Lord for my next assignment. I talked with my husband and he agreed with my decision to leave at the end of the school year.
During that time my pastor, Michael Youssef, gave a confirming word in a Sunday sermon about David, He said, “Sometimes the Lord asks you to do something that requires risk and sacrifice and tests your willingness to trust Him and take Him at His word. He has His hands ready to catch you.”
My husband and I saw those words in action in our life. During that fall, my husband had some serious health challenges. He also had a new administration at his school that caused stress in his work situation. I prayed for my husband, Jack, differently. My prayers were not just for Jack to see the Lord at work in his life, but to call on the Lord for help. I recognized we were in a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6: 10-18 gave me direction of how to pray for my husband.
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 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 —
Ephesians 6: 10-18
My prayers changed to warfare prayers. I began to pray for deliverance and protection; declare that the Lord would break every curse spoken against my husband. I declared that Jack walked in the kingdom of righteousness and light. I began to pray for the full armor of God to cover him when he left our house. At first, I prayed these prayers in my quiet time, but as the battle continued, I prayed over Jack with his permission. 
Something within me realized we were in a spiritual battle that only faith in God and our trust in Him could bring us through. Out of the spiritual battle came a change that opened the door to my husband’s heart. What Satan meant for evil, God used for good.