Fighting the Good Fight: Taking Aggressive Spiritual Action (Part 1)

Date: September 25, 2026 Series: The View From Above (Thoughts to Help With Everyday Life) Author: Pastor Paul Stephens

Victory often requires spiritually, mentally, and emotionally very aggressive and sometimes violent action. Here is what I mean, and of course, the Bible reinforces my statement. You have to get a grip, take control, and start exercising the authority you have in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy:

[1 Timothy 6:12 AMP]

"Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called..."

Why is it a fight? Why does there have to be struggle in order to maintain a high level of faith unto overcoming?

Because we have a fallen nature that contradicts faith, hope, and having continual confidence in God. Life will always challenge our faith; mountains rise up, giants appear, obstacles present themselves. Our lives can be very fearful places if we allow them to be.

This is where that battle takes place; this is where we must fight. We have been presented with truth, and that truth is located in God's word. Truth is not subjective; it is absolute. God's word, the Bible, is God's letter to man. It states in the midst of a very confusing and hostile world what is true about God, His will for your life, and what the future holds if you love Him supremely, serve Him, and obey Him.

That is why you must familiarize yourself with what God says about you by reading His word. You learn what is true, and then you adapt it into your thinking:

• Embrace truth

• Speak truth

• Think truth

You must fight to replace negative thinking with Biblical thinking.

The Power of God's Promises

Let's give this a try. God's word has power; let's see if that supernatural power does not have an effect right now. These are some of my favorite of God's promises that never cease to calm my soul and bring peace:

[Isaiah 41:10]

"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Take that promise, establish it in your heart, soul, and mind... and let it drive out every thought that contradicts this precious, valuable, and life-changing truth.

A "Stayed Mind" Brings Perfect Peace

[Isaiah 26:3-4]

"You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in the LORD, is everlasting strength."

This is something you have to make an effort to achieve. A "stayed mind" is one that knows how to fixate on God at the critical moments of life. The result is, no matter what we see around us, we trust. WE TRUST GOD—and place all confidence in Him. This is what results in our peace: the glorious, wonderful peace that only a life that trusts in God can produce.

I rely on His strength, and I like the way it is stated in that verse: "everlasting strength." Why not just say strength? Because our strength has limits; it can wear out, and we can become weak again. His strength endures for all eternity, and that strength that never wears out can be your portion.

He Will Not Fail You

Let's do one more:

[Deuteronomy 31:8 AMP]

"It is the LORD who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed."

No, not ever! He won't; He can't. It is not in God's nature to leave or forsake those whom He loves with an everlasting and enduring love.

When I struggle in my mind and negative, evil thoughts try to land and get a foothold, the above promises are where I need to go. Sometimes it really is a fight—like a spiritual, mental wrestling match to dislodge demoralizing and discouraging thoughts and replace them with God's word and the promises located there.

So in the end, your peace, your victory, and your joy are not going to come passively by just sitting around hoping. You have to aggressively fight and contend for them all. Set yourself to do so today. Take some aggressive, spiritually violent action in prayer today and see if your victory doesn't start afresh.

I'll have more on this subject tomorrow, so stay tuned.