1 Thessalonians 2:18 - Spiritual battle

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 2:18
18 For we wanted to come to you — I, Paul, more than once — and yet Satan hindered us.
NASU


Thoughts:

Most of us are hesitant today to mention the spirit world, lest we be considered naive in our thinking.  But there is a spirit world or spiritual beings in this world, and that includes Satan and the demons.

Though Paul was undoubtedly prevented by people and events in his life from doing what he longed to do -- visit and minister to the Thessalonians -- he saw it as nothing less than spiritual battle preventing him.  Paul does not enumerate all the ways this hindrance took place, but it may well have in part been through the Jewish leaders he had just mentioned in this letter who resisted their ministry to the Gentiles, which would include the Thessalonians:

1 Thessalonians 2:14-16
14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, 15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, 16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.
NASU

It is true that some attribute too much to spiritual attack in their lives, but I suspect the majority attribute too little.  We often don't even consider that some of the issues in our lives are really designed by our enemy to hinder our walks with God and our ministry. 

The chaos of getting the family to church on Sunday, or the co-worker or family member that just knows how to get under your skin and throw off your spiritual game for the day; might not these and other commonplace things be ploys of our enemy (whether those involved know it or not)?  We all have experienced the effectiveness of these ploys, I would guess!

Seeing the real player behind the events, can totally change our perspective.  It can take us from losing, by falling into the trap, to winning, by seeing what is really going on and not giving in.  After all, it is not people with which we are at war, but the enemy of all people, and his helpers:

Ephesians 6:12
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
NASU

Prayer:

Lord, help me to be discerning of the spiritual challenges that are thrown my way, as I seek to follow You.  Let me not be ignorant of any hindrances from the enemy in my life.  Let me be victorious over them by Your power.

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.