What Does a Warrior Woman in Battle Look Like?

IRON SHARPENS IRON: April 17, 2023

Welcome back! Each week since the Warrior Women's Conference, I've been breaking down key takeaways from the "Iron Sharpens Iron" message for those who couldn't be there or for those who were there and are looking for key points. To recap, we've discussed what the phrase "iron sharpens iron" means, what happens when we do and don't sharpen ourselves and others, and female friendships in the Bible that exemplify this concept. In this blog, we'll talk about what a warrior woman in battle looks like.

If you’ve ever read Ephesians 6, you’re familiar with the phrase “The armor of God.” In essence, we get a picture of what a warrior woman should look like:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” - Ephesians 6:10-17

So, the word "battle": what does that mean? Like the verse says, we're never mad at a person or upset at someone. We're never feeling frustrated or irritable due to a situation or because it's just "one of those days." The true battle is between the light you have in Christ and the darkness of Satan. After all, Satan's ultimate goal is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).

These attacks can be seen in so many forms. This could be persecution for your faith, accusations against your character, depression of the mind, worries and thoughts that keep you up at night, waiting on God's timing for a specific prayer request and the fear it may never be answered...the list of types of enemy attacks is endless.

It’s not easy being a warrior woman. It’s not a glamorous, pretty title. Just like a warrior on a literal battle ground, there is blood, sweat and tears. You gotta work! Some days, I feel like I’ve walked off the battlefield with bullet holes in my breastplate, the straps of my sandals have fallen off, my shield is charred from those flaming darts. But those wounds are actually awesome, because if you don’t have those wounds, you haven’t been out there fighting.

REJOICE in the rough condition of your armor – you’re fighting in the Lord’s army! After I come off the battlefield, I need the Lord to buff out the markings on my armor, to clean the blood off my arms, to straighten my helmet back on. And He does... Every. Time. PLUS, He gives me an extra boost for the next go around.

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm and strengthen, and establish you." - 1 Peter 5:10

As warrior women, it is our job and it is our calling in life to bring glory to God and to bring others to God to build up those around us. Suit up and get out there!

So, what is our weapon in battle? In that Ephesians 6 passage, it refers to the sword as “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." The BIBLE is our weapon to slay a demon feeding lies to us and to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We HAVE to be in the Word consistently. That's a non-negotiable. When Satan was tempting Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew 4, He had a verse to contradict every single lie Satan tried to pass as truth:

What Satan said: “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

What Jesus said: “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"

What Satan said: “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’"

What Jesus said: “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

What Satan said: (showing Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor) “All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me.”

What Jesus said: “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

After His constant rebuttal of Scriptural facts, the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. In that moment, the Word was Jesus' weapon of defense. In the same way, when the enemy comes snooping around trying to stir up division, anger, worry, etc. in our hearts, knowing and speaking that Biblical truth is how we send Satan on his merry way and say the cliche (but so true) line, "NOT TODAY SATAN!"

Thank you for reading this fourth installment in the blog series "Iron Sharpens Iron." Next blog will be the final installment. It's not a comfortable topic. It’s not a fun topic. It’s not an easy topic. But it’s a message I didn’t grow up hearing. It’s not being preached many places, but it is SO important to talk about, because it seems to happening everywhere. It happened to me: the dangers of a lukewarm Christian.