Four Things Needed to Succeed in Warfare
It is important to recognize that, as with any conflict, we are sure to encounter times of discouragement, fatigue, despondency and the desire to give up. After explaining that we must wage a constant and brutal war with ourselves, Lorenzo Scupoli († AD 1610), the writer of the great spiritual classic, Spirtual Combat (transated into English as Unseen Warfare) reminds us:
If you really desire to be victorious in this unseen warfare, and be rewarded with a crown, you must plant in your heart the following four dispositions and spiritual activities, as it were arming yourself with invisible weapons: 1. Never rely on yourself for anything. 2. Bear always in your heart a perfect and daring trust in God. 3. Strive without ceasing. 4. Remain constantly in prayer.
Don’t Go it Alone
This is excellent advice. However, right out of the gate, when we reflect on the first disposition we are challenged. This is a hard one for the modern person, as we are taught to only rely on one’s self. But as stated wisely by Solomon in the scriptures (Proverbs 3:5):
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Relying entirely on ones’ own understanding can be hazardous as we are but novices and require guidance and accountability. Just as any fighter is under a superior or commander with more experience, in unseen warfare we should seek the guidance of those who are more experienced. One of the great mystics, St. Gregory of Sinai († AD 1346), who kidnapped as a young man, eventually ransomed, and then ended up in the monastery at Mount Sinai (where Moses received the 10 commandments), had this to say:
If some have gone astray and lost their mental balance, this is because they have in arrogance followed their own counsels. For when you seek God in obedience and humility, and with the guidance of a spiritual Master, you will never come to any harm, by the grace of Christ who desires all to be saved.
St. Gregory of Sinai provided this word of caution regarding self-reliance and spiritual delusion:
But if you are presumptuous and follow your own counsel you will readily fall victim to delusion.
Stubborn pride and self reliance can lead to all sorts of stumblings and even defeat. Spiritual delusion is far more destructive than simply making mistakes. When we create an inaccurate narrative for ourselves, about ourselves, without having any checks and balances, we can fall into a trap not even realizing we are in a trap.
In order to not rely solely on oneself, it is important to have a spiritual mentor, a priest, pastor, or sponsor who has experience. Even having a co-struggler, friend or accountability partner is important. Also, it is essential to have a church-based community, or similar social support system on your side. Being in the presence of other strugglers, hearing their stories, and developing relationships with others on this journey, can provide support and encouragement.
In the book of proverbs, it says, those who have no guidance fall like leaves, “but there is safety in much counsel” (Prov 11:14). The sixth-century monk St. Dorotheos of Gaza († AD 565) had this to say:
It assures us that we should not set ourselves up as guide post, that we should not consider ourselves sagacious, that we should not believe we can direct ourselves. We need assistance, we need guidance in addition to God’s Grace.
He goes on to say:
leaves are always green in the beginning, they grow vigorously and are pleasing to look at. Then, after a short time, they dry up and fall off, and in the end, they are blown away by the wind and trodden underfoot. So is the man who is not guided by someone.
Trust God & Don’t Give Up
Trusting entirely in God and proceeding with unwavering resolve and perseverance are required. Trying to fight our broken self without the help of God or without resolve is like attacking Godzilla’s ankle with a stick. You will tire quickly and, in the end, you will be crushed. Therefore, you must be prepared to persevere and not give up.
Yes, the struggle is difficult, but there is a reward for those who “strive without ceasing.” Besides acquiring interior peace and restoring your life in God, there is contentment that is indescribable. Amma Syncletica of Alexandria, one of the great desert mothers of fourth-century Egypt said encouragingly:
In the beginning there are a great many battles and a good deal of suffering for those who are advancing towards God and afterwards, ineffable joy. It is like those who wish to light a fire; at first they are choked by the smoke and cry, and by this means obtain what they seek (as it is said: ‘Our God is a consuming fire’ [Hebrews. 12.24]): so we also must kindle the divine fire in ourselves through tears and hard work.
The unfortunate reality of unseen warfare is that many people start the fight and quickly give up. Many are initially inspired to undertake this battle in a deliberate way once these methods are discovered, but after a time discouragement takes hold of the fighter. St. Peter of Damascus:
Patient endurance kills the despair that kills the soul; it teaches the soul to take comfort and not to grow listless in the face of its many battles and afflictions.
These encouraging words come from Evagrius and the Psalms:
Endure fearlessly, and you will see the great things of God, His help. His care, and all the other assurances of salvation. For as the Psalm says, ‘I waited for Him who delivers me from distress of spirit and the tempest.’
The opposite of trust in God is fear, and fear results in surrender. When we start to lose hope, and we allow fear to overcome our determination, we can easily be vanquished. Therefore, we must recognize fear for what it is and revert to courage.
Some of the most repeated phrases in the bible are: “Fear not,” “I am the Lord your God”, “I am with you,” and “Do not be afraid.” This could be read as a sentence: “Fear not for I am the Lord your God and I am with you, so do not be afraid.” These words of encouragement appear so frequently in the scriptures because God wants to drill this into the thoughts and hearts of all of us. He’s telling us to never give up.
Pray Without Ceasing
Finally, the fighter must perpetually be occupied with the activity of prayer because prayer is the fighters greatest weapon. As the enemy asails us with arrows throughout the day, we can take refuge in the internal fortress of communication with God. Resorting to constant prayer is how we fight temptations, and displace bad thoughts that lead to the occasion of sin. Prayer also provides one with God’s grace and power. The more we are in prayer, even short and small prayers, the more we are training ourselves to be united to God, and thus distanced from all that causes our brokenness and weakness in the battle. St. Theodoros the Great Ascetic:
But as our trusty weapon in this incorporeal fight we have been given pure prayer: that is why we are told to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17), Prayer strengthens the intellect in the struggle, since it can be practiced even without the body taking part.
The necessity of frequent prayer in spiritual struggle cannot be stressed enough. St. Theophan the Recluse († AD 1894):