Lessons from a Dirt Clod Fight

Sharon JaynesGeneral Inspiration, Prayer/Spiritual Warfare 118 Comments

 

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV).


In my early years, I was a rough and rowdy tomboy who climbed trees, skipped rocks, and made skid marks on the asphalt with my glittery pink banana seat bike.

My backyard was the envy of every kid in the neighborhood. It came equipped with a drainage ditch across the back border that separated us from a vacant, thickly wooded lot.

The ditch tunneled beneath six city blocks through concrete pipes large enough to stand up in and walk through, and culminated in a very large crater we dubbed “The Canyon.” How do I know you could stand up in them? You guessed. We did it.

To the kids in the neighborhood, the ditch was a virtual wonderland filled with all kinds of creepy, crawly critters to be discovered. I felt like the luckiest kid around to have such an attraction right in my own backyard.

On the other side of “The Canyon” lived another neighborhood that was a bit rougher than ours. We dubbed the boys who lived there the “Canyon Boys.” Great animosity existed between the Canyon Boys and the boys in our neighborhood (of which I thought I was one).

One day the warring factions decided there was going to be a big rumble between the two. The time: 2:00 p.m. The place: the drainage ditch bordering my backyard. The weapon of choice: dirt clods.

We boys gathered in my yard on the east side of the ditch as the enemy gathered in the vacant lot on the west. We piled up our ammo, hunkered down behind mounds of dirt and trees, and waited for the first shot to be fired. Then it began.

Clods of hardened mud flew left and right. At some point during this heated battle, I peeked out from behind a tree to throw a grenade, and something hit me square in the forehead. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it didn’t feel like dirt. As blood poured down my brow, I looked on the ground and saw the culprit. A brick.

“You cheated!” I yelled at the enemy forces.

Fearing I had suffered a fatal blow, the enemies ran for their lives. My buds ran to get my mom, and I was whisked away to the hospital. The doctor shaved a patch of hair from the top of my forehead, sewed my skin back together, and placed a patch over the wound. Oh, it wasn’t as nifty as a broken arm or a broken leg, but having your head spit open by a rival was pretty cool.  The picture in today’s post is me proudly sporting my patch. 

Some of my hair never grew back in that spot and I have a scar to remind me of a few facts about fighting foes.

1.  The enemy cheats.

2.  The enemy slings more than just dirt.

3.  The enemy has great aim.

4.  The enemy’s attacks sometimes leave scars.

5.  The enemy is not playing a game.

I don’t fight with bullies anymore—at least, not the human kind. But I do have one nemesis that challenges me regularly. The Bible calls him the “great deceiver,” “the accuser,” “the devil,” “the evil one.” Interestingly, the same lessons I learned from that dirt clod fight apply to him today.

What about you? Do you know how to fight the spiritual battles in your life? Ephesians 6:10-20 is a great place to start.

If you are ready and willing to take your stand against the enemy today, leave a comment and say, “According to Ephesians 6, I’m taking my stand!”

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, today I put on the full armor of God to stand against the enemy’s schemes: the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the sandals of the gospel of peace. I also take up the shield of faith in one hand and the sword of the Spirit in the other. Now I’m ready to take my stand.   In Jesus’ name, amen.

What do You Think?

Go back to the list of 5 things I learned about the enemy during my dirt clod fight. Now, consider how each one of those principles applies to spiritual warfare.

Read Ephesians 6:10-20 and list the pieces of the armor of God. Envision putting on each piece as you write them down.

Notice there is only 1 offense weapon. What is it? How do you take up the Sword of the Spirit?

Want More?

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And here’s some good news, this book is specially priced for the month of June. Get one for yourself, and we’ll include another free for you to share. It won’t show up on your receipt, but we’ll make sure it is included in your package. 

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Comments 118

  3. Very important lesson, my husband and I are separated and we have been having “dirt clod fights” and we don’t fight fair, nor should we really be fighting. He likes to show and tell everyone my faults (everyone that will listen) and that hurts, I’ve not said anything to anyone about any faults he may have, I’ve been praying for restoration of my marriage #4 but since he doesn’t live with me I’m not sure this is gonna happen. Please pray for us, and him and me….thanks

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    4. wow donna i am having this same situation except my “husband” and i have been divorced for about 3 yrs now but he still feels the need to show and tell anyone who will listen that is my fault that we arent together he cheated literally from day 2 of our relationship all the way up until divorce but even tho he chooses this route i dont speak on his name or discuss our many reasons for divorcing i am now remarried and very happy but his tactics have a tendency to disrupt our home i continue to pray for him although it is hard you do the same itll get better ill be praying for you!!

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    5. I too am waiting for a miracle in the restoration of my marriage. Do not give up. I am standing for my marriage and I am taking a stand against the enemy! sharons website has been a tremendous help. I also found Rejoice Marriage Ministries out of Florida. Go to their website and read about standing for your marriage. Lets only fight the enemy and not our spouses!

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  4. Very important lesson, my husband and I are separated and we have been having “dirt clod fights” and we don’t fight fair, nor should we really be fighting. He likes to show and tell everyone my faults (everyone that will listen) and that hurts, I’ve not said anything to anyone about any faults he may have, I’ve been praying for restoration of my marriage #4 but since he doesn’t live with me I’m not sure this is gonna happen. Please pray for us, and him and me….thanks

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  8. “According to Ephesians 6, I’m taking my stand!” I fear not as God is with me all the way! Thanks again

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  10. According to Ephesians 6—-I am taking my stand and I put on the belt of truth and pray that God will sanctify me in HIS truth for his word is truth. John 17:17

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  11. According to Ephesions 6, I am taking my stand!! I pray this over myself and family each morning before my feet even hit the floor! :)). We serve a Mighty God who provides everything to prevail in this very dark world!! Thank you, Jesus!!

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  17. I’m taking my stand. Satan comes in many forms and uses those brick throwers to take aim and try to hurt or bring us down. But when we take a stand the wound heals and faith grows.

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  18. According to Ephesians 6, I am taking a stand!……I Pray for the Restoration of God’s Love that binds two imperfect people together as long as they live for your marriage Donna!Hang on and don’t loose faith,You victory-story is in this storm!http://www.herrise.org/

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  19. According to Ephesians 6 I am taking a STAND!! No MORE believing lies!!!! The truth secure around my waist. I am FREE!!

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  20. According to Ephesians 6, I’m taking my stand!
    He has overcome and we are already victorious in Christ!

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  21. OK, so I’m a man and I read GIG. Deal with it!!!!!!!!!!!!
    A friend of mine recently became a Christian and I listed some sites she might want to read to get some solid Christian teaching. Later she came back and said that since she was reading the ones I suggested that I should read this one. So here I is!
    I said all that to say that your topic today came close to home. The lady I refer to was involved with spiritism and so was her family. Two of her sisters are still strongly committed to Edgar Cayce. As I listened to her talk about how many people she knew who were involved with a so-called spiritual belief system, I was amazed. But then i realized that yoga is taught in schools, horoscopes are standard fare in many publications,and evolution is taught as a fact so why should I be surprised. Incidentally, she said that most of the people attending their “conferences” were women. My thought was to suggest you write a “series” on the practical ways that spiritism is invading the lives of the people around us in subtle, and not so subtle, ways. I didn’t want to do this, but I prayed about it and it seemed the right thing to do.
    Oh, BTW, mine was a rock, but it did not require stitches…………….luckily it bled enough that a did not get a spanking.
    George

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  30. According to Ephesians 6, I am taking my stand!! My prayers for you Donna. God is so good and will take care of all. Pray for me for a teaching job and as we move away from our grown son, d-in-law, and 3 beautiful granddaughters after being in the same town with them for 8 years. GIG you are wonderful and I look forward to your words each day. <3

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  31. According to Ephesians 6, I am taking my stand!! My prayers for you Donna. God is so good and will take care of all. Pray for me for a teaching job and as we move away from our grown son, d-in-law, and 3 beautiful granddaughters after being in the same town with them for 8 years. GIG you are wonderful and I look forward to your words each day.

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  39. Oh I sure needed to read that,I haven’t been putting anything on to protect me from the enemy for a VERY long time. I pray for others & my family but for myself just words I guess not really having the faith due to making mistakes,& thinking I am not worthy! Now for months I have been dealing with 3 disc’s in my neck pinching nerves that go down both arms & both of my hands and it is so painful,that it is hard to move or hold anything let alone drive:-( I am so afraid to have surgery because of horror stories that I hear it’s a 50-50 chance that it will help. I know if a friend told me this I would go to battle in prayer for them,but when I am so close to it & in so MUCH PAIN my faith went out the window. So thank you I really,really need a kick in the you know what shame on me for just plain forgetting or giving up the devil sure is working overtime on me. So YES according to Ephesicans 6, I am taking a stand;-)

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  40. “According to Ephesians 6, I am taking my stand!” And know during my struggle or fight when I feel I have loss, all hope is gone, and I’m left wondering “why me”. I will continue to have faith and lay all my troubles on the alter allowing my prescious Lord and savior to take the reigns and guide me out of the fight sucessfully. I pray for covering and guidance everyday making sure my ears are clean and my heart is open and ready to hear and receive what God had for me. For I am a testimony knowing that HE may not come when I want him too but HE is ALWAYS on time. Thank you so much for each days lesson. I forward the emails daily cause you never know who is going through what and may need to hear a lifting and supporting word. Donna I’m praying for you both!!!

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  41. “According to Ephesians 6, I’m taking my stand!” I’m reclaiming my life and career – I was not created to just be a mother, cleaner, cook, chauffer and be all alone!

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  48. “According to Ephesians6, I am taking my stand!” Thanks so much for this lesson. It has been a blessing to me and i am determined to take my stand in the war against the enemy. It is not an easy thing but with God all things are possible.

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  50. According to Ephesians 6, I’m taking my stand! God must have known that we are under attack today. I dreamed last night about Satan coming into the lives of people I know, woke up with it on my heart big this morning and prayed immediately for my family, those I love, my house, and property. I just keep believing one day when we see Satan we will laugh at how little he truly is! We can defeat him but we must be vigilant and take that stand!

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  56. According to Ephesians6 I amready to take my Stand. God is so good that I have some spirtual warfare going on in my life and I was looking for the right way to break through i will start by doing some praying and fasting. In Jesus Name Amen!

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  57. According to Ephesians 6, I’m taking my stand! I lift up Donna and Lynda to you Lord, as you know what is needed in each of their lives at this time. I was strengthened through this devotion to keep using the ‘sword of the truth’ when I feel attacked or weak, whether it is physically or spiritually. When I go to His word it gives strength when I feel emotionallly and physically drained – which is almost a daily occurrence and has been for the past 14 years. In my weakness He gives me strength and power to walk with Him through each day.

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  58. According to Eph 6 I am taking my stand. For my husband’s soul, marriage restoration and my family. I plead the blood of Jesus over these situations. My God’s perfect plan will prevail over the enemies schemes. Prayer warriors, please help me pray for my husband to return to The Lord.

    Shannon

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    1. Dearest Shannon:

      You are in my thoughts and prayers. The devil is a thief and a liar and he will not prevail! I pray for full restoration of your marriage, the salvation of your husband and peace in your family and home life. Stay in the Word and stand on His promises. God bless you.

      Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)

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  64. Hi Sharon,

    I came over from GIG. I heard a teaching on the meaning of peace. In the teaching, the speaker pointed out something very interesting and true about the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace. It has helped me immensely, so I’d like to pass it on. We put on peace, and we think of peace as something fluffy, but it is a very powerful weapon, and helps keep us unmoved and walking in spite of our circumstances.

    The Roman soldiers sandals were not flat as we think of sandals. They had three inch spikes on the soles of the sandals. These sandals helped them to walk over all terrain and and keep their footing when they were marching.

    These sandals also enabled the Roman soldier to keep their feet firmly planted and those three inch spikes dug into the ground when in a fight against their enemy. The enemy could not make them fall and they could swing their sword accurately and not be moved when fighting against the enemy.

    Those same sandals also were used to deliver a kick in the face to deliver a death blow in face of the enemy.

    To me after absorbing what was said about the shoes as another offensive weapon makes sense. If we are using our armor, by using the sword, and using the truth to protect our vital organs, it protects our heart, protecting our mind with the helmet of salvation, living with righteous living, and in the imputed righteousness of Christ, then anxiety does not need to be part of our daily living, and the peace does deliver a death blow to the enemy because we are living in peace and trusting in our Savior instead of reacting to our circumstances living in fear. This is part of resisting the enemy and he shall flee.

    He can harass us attack us very easily when we are not in the Word, but we also need to believe the Word, and stand, walk, and run applying what the Word says. That is part of the fight too, and part of the obedience brings peace, a weapon of our warfare. It garrisons our hearts and minds,

    Blessings,

    Joanne

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  68. According to Ephesians 6, “I am taking my stand!” He will NOT destroy Richard and he will NOT destroy our relationship and future together, in Jesus name!!!!

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  69. According to Ephesians 6, I’m taking my stand! Now for the wisdom and discernment to recognize those evil forces…

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  70. We had a “Canyon” in our backyard where I grew up in Affton, MO. I did some tom boy things too ! We spent lots of time walking in those pipes and it was FUN ! No turf wars, though. What a great devotional today, such a wonderful parallel. YES, I am taking my stand according to Ephesians 6. Satan is very good at what he does—kill, steal and destroy. And I am in a spiritual battle with him right now, so thank you endlessly for your message that has reminded me to go to my strongest weapon, THE WORD OF GOD to fight this battle that is unseen. I know Who wins, but I want to stay strong in the fight.. Sorry about your head wound, but God does allow those scars for a greater purpose. How wonderful that you could parallel it with this lesson for me today ! Love you Sharon, blessings and joy to you !

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  73. According to Ephesians 6, I’m taking my stand! I will stand and watch God freaky the enemy against my family..Let God arise and his enemies be scattered…It’s time for victory!

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  75. According to Ephesians 6, I am taking my stand!!!!! Been standing my ground for quite some time now and keeping the Faith! We have the Victory!!! 🙂

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  77. According to Ephesians 6 I am taking my stand!!! I am standing in the gap for my husband (we are legally divorced) and interceeding for him. God IS going to restore our marriage in His perfect timing. He (my husband) has thrown so many “bricks” at me but I haven’t thrown so much as a feather. I love my husband and just want him to come home. I would appreciate prayers (joining me) that my husband’s heart be softened and he would repent and return to God. He has been gone now for 3 years.

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  81. “According to Ephesians 6, I’m taking my stand!”

    I’m 73 years old but still have some fight in me. Let’s Rumble!
    Zoe

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  82. “According to Ephesians 6, I’m taking my stand!”

    I’m 73 years oldwith COPD but still have some fight in me. Let’s Rumble!
    Zoe

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  83. “According to Ephesians 6, I’m taking my stand!”

    The devil is a liar and a cheater. He will rob you of your life. I have been battling with him for almost 40 years as I suffer with severe panic attacks that keep me from doing many things. Please pray with me as I continue in my battle with panic disorder. I give God the honor and the glory for prayers answered, in Jesus’ name. AMEN

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  84. According to Ephesians 6, I’m taking my stand, in the Mighty Name of Jesus! Praying for Donna and all couples who are facing situations of separation. God is a healer and one who can put broken relationships back together.

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  85. According to Ephesians 6, I am not taking my stand, I HAVE TAKEN a stand against the enemy, in Jesus’ name!

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  93. “According to Ephesians 6, I’m taking my stand!” Please pray for my sister. She has been feeling like my mom and I are against her and she feels my mom hates her. I know it is the devil making her feel this way. She has been separated from her husband and she has been feeling worthless and not confident. I know the enemy is trying to get out at her. He has know she has come along way and he is trying to destroy her. But my mom and I will not let that happen. Give her strength God and a family strength too. In Jesus name.

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  96. According to Ephesians 6 I’m taking my stand! And I’m praying for Donna and all others in similar situations!

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  97. According to Ephesians 6 I’m taking my stand! And I’m praying for Donna and all others in similar situations! Prayer works miracles I know.

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  99. “According to Ephesians 6, I’m taking my stand!”

    Goodness, I needed to read this today! I’ve just begun a campaign to fund a big, bold, God-inspired dream He birthed in my heart 2 years ago. Who knew I would feel downtrodden after not raising a million dollars in five minutes? 🙂 The enemy is trying to destroy with self-doubt and anxiety over my deadline. This was a precious reminder that He who birthed the dream will bear the fruit. He makes all things possible in His time. I will wait for that time and continue to take my stand against that rascally devil. Thank you Sharon! Always look forward to you posts!

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    1. Cynthia,

      Just keep in mind the devil is not a “rascal”. He’s a demon with all the power and evil that implies. I used to like the Flip Wilson jokes about “The devil made me do it.”; but not any more. The point is……it’s not good to underestimate him.

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  101. According to Ephesians 6, I AM TAKING MY STAND!!
    I will not allow the enemy to burden my life, my family, my relationship, my home any more. I rebuke the enemy! I know my GOD is work on my family and my home as we need it. I know that his work takes time but we have to be patient and obedient an listen!! So I ask that y’all pray for me and my family and pray that our ears will be cleaned and cleared to hear The Lord and that we will be obedient! And that he will bring my children back home to me and help me to continue to beat my addiction an help me to be the mother he made me to be! I will be praying for all the GIG sister and pray that GODS will be done!!

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  103. According to Ephesians 6, I’m taking my stand!”
    Let’s Pray- Thank YOU LORD for YOUR shield of faith which quenches ALL the fiery arrows and deflects the enemy’s aim! Give me an added measure of faith each day to meet the needs ahead as i rest in the Truth of YOUR promises! In the Matchless Name of JESUS…Amen
    WOOHOO! Amazing grace how sweet the sound!

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