Here is another throwback hymn for you! A hymn that has been used often in the past year at my church is “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” by Martin Luther. The words are a powerful force against spiritual warfare and times of trouble. It was not until I sang this song on my worship team that I looked more closely at each word, as it has been so long since I had heard or even thought of this hymn. It has proved to be helpful in times of need.
Have you ever been plagued by thoughts at night?
Almost every night before I sing on the worship team at my church, I can’t sleep. What happens is inconsistent. Sometimes I will be jolted awake every half hour throughout the night. As I try to fall back asleep, I will ruminate over why I need to be sleeping to be ready for worship and thinking of how little sleep time I have left. Sometimes the night is filled with my mind, plagued with thoughts of unworthiness: “you are not loved, you are alone, you are not worthy of love.” And I’m not going to lie, those thoughts sometimes do creep into my mind here and there throughout my life, but never to the point where I feel like I need to put on boxing gloves and fight them off as they do on these nights. Sleep is almost never a problem for me.
I’ve come to realize my mind at night is not protected as much as my mind during the day. However, the circumstances in which these thoughts take place–always the night before a day where I am supposed to help in worshipping Jesus–and the repetition of it, has made me realize these are more than just anxious thoughts or insecurities. It is Satan tempting me to despair, to give up, to wage war against my mind. In sleep, I am less on guard and not immediately able to turn to others for help. But Jesus is there in the darkness:
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Repeating words to myself is a powerful tool for training my mind and a way to endure the night. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Memorizing and knowing Scripture helps, as well as the words to hymns.
The Lyrics
The words to “A Mighty Fortress is Our God’ are below. Though written 500 years ago, the words are relevant today and useful when I need courage, strength, and a battle cry:
1.
A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
2
Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.
3
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
4
That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!
How I Respond to Spiritual Warfare
On these nights where the war is closeby, I hold onto these words and the Scripture mentioned throughout this post. Sometimes, I wake up drained, not feeling fully awake to help be part of a team leading a congregation and worshiping the Lord. But instead of giving in to the temptation of saying, “I am too tired and I am not going to try today, I am just going to take this day easy,” I tell God, “This is for You, not for me. I am not going to let Satan’s temptation of despair win. I am going to worship You as if I am not tired at all.”
With Jesus, we have won the battle:
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5: 8-11
