Fight or Flight?

Psalms 91: 5-6

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

Fear is a natural human emotion, which triggers our fight or flight response in the face of imminent physical danger.

What do we do when we encounter spiritual danger? Do we fight or flee?

The Holy Bible commands us not to fight spiritual battles with our own strength. In fact, the Bible tells us to put on the armour of God so we can stand firm against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6: 10-18). The excerpt goes on to describe our holy weapons – the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

While almost every piece of armoury is defensive, there is only one weapon that is loaded with satan-repellent. It is the WORD OF GOD!

Jesus proved it to us when satan visited Him on Earth with grand offers. One after another, satan tested his physical restraint, spiritual resolve and identity in God. The Lord Jesus could have easily snapped His fingers and got rid of satan. But He showed us how to depend on the Word of God for our victory! (Luke 4: 1-13)

There were times when the Spirit led Jesus away from danger. The Lord Jesus was submissive and withdrew from such situations (John 10: 31-39).

The Lord Jesus depended fully on the Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to fight against the devil. Through His life, He showed us how to overcome spiritual battles in our own lives.

In truth, it is not about fighting or fleeing. It is about depending on the Word of God and the counsel of the Holy Spirit to live a fearless and triumphant life!