“How great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.”
(Psalm 66:3 ESV)
What comes to mind when you think of spiritual warfare?
Darkness. Spookiness. Satan. Demons. Spiritual warfare may conjure up thoughts of ugly things. Warfare is never pretty.
Spiritual Warfare 101
The Bible teaches us that we all live in a spiritual war. It’s unseen (Ephesians 6:12), and yet as real as everything we see.
Anyone who is not right with God through faith in Jesus sides with God’s enemies, who will one day be thoroughly punished for eternity (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). If you are right with God through faith in his Son, Jesus, then you side with God himself. Your victory, eternal safety, and joy are secure.
We might think of this war as an even match between good and evil—God and the devil. But that would be wrong. God is stronger—infinitely so. For, God is Creator and all the powers of darkness are created beings.
Are You Ever Discouraged in the Fight?
But although we know that our enemy is no match for God himself—and, we should add, has been decisively conquered through Jesus’ death and resurrection—we might still fall prey to the lie (our feelings leading us, of course) that the dark powers of the world are stronger than God.
The evil of the world seems so pervasive. The schemes of the enemy seem so successful. We get discouraged. We are weak, fearful, and easily overcome. And so we project our relationship to evil powers onto our perception of God’s relationship to evil powers. In our fear and weakness, we doubt God’s power: Our enemy intimidates us.
Yet, Psalm 66:3 sets us straight.
A Verse to Encourage Us in Spiritual Warfare
This little sentence snuck into the “songbook” of the Old Testament breathes new courage into our hearts as we face spiritual war.
We overhear a God’s people talking to God, reflecting in awe.
“How great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.” (Psalm 66:3 ESV)
When this verse says that God’s enemies come cringing to him, it does not mean they are awkward or embarrassed in his presence, but that they bow and submit to him despite despising to do so. God’s enemies are at his mercy. Although they hate him and war against him, their knees must ultimately bow to his authority. The darkness does not intimidate God like it may intimidate us; God intimidates the darkness.
When Jesus lived on earth, demons fell down before him (Mark 5:6). When he comes again, he will swiftly and decisively conquer all his enemies in heaven and on earth (Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 20:7-15). At his name, every knee will bow, in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue will confess him as Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).
Right now, friend, God’s enemies fear him. If you have taken refuge in Jesus for your salvation, take comfort in this truth.
Have You Overestimated the Enemy’s Power?
Is there an area of your life where you have overestimated the enemy’s power? Make this psalmist’s reflection your own today. How great is your power, Lord God, that your enemies come cringing to you (Psalm 66:3).
Cherish the truth of this Scripture and believe it. Write it down if that will help you—God’s enemies come cringing to him. So do not fear the spiritual war waging around you today, for God is greater than the darkness you face.
And if you find yourself on the wrong side of the battle lines, accept today the good news—the loving offer of salvation from the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for your sins, that he might transfer you from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13-14). Call on Jesus to save you, and he will (Romans 10:13).