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Welcome to Chapter 2 of ROW Against the Flow: Recognizing the Battle. This week, we’re digging into the reality of spiritual warfare—not as something distant or dramatic, but as a daily, often subtle, part of our lives.

Chapter Focus: Becoming Aware of the Unseen

In this chapter, we explore how spiritual battles aren’t just epic showdowns—they’re the everyday struggles, doubts, temptations, and discouragements that can quietly shape our decisions and relationships. We look at:

• How the enemy’s schemes often go unnoticed in our routines
• The importance of recognizing spiritual battles in daily life
• Practical signs: persistent temptations, discouragement, confusion, and relational conflict
• The power of awareness and preparation—like gearing up for a hike, knowing what you’re facing changes how you prepare

You’ll also find honest stories, biblical insights, and practical steps to help you identify and respond to these challenges.

Let’s Discuss: Conversation Starters

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories. After reading Chapter 2, consider sharing in the comments:

• Have you ever realized you were in a spiritual battle only after the fact? What gave it away?
• Which “signs” of spiritual warfare—temptation, discouragement, confusion, relational conflict—do you most often notice in your life?
• How do you prepare yourself spiritually for the “storms” or challenges you face?
• What helps you stay alert to the enemy’s schemes without becoming fearful or overwhelmed?

Feel free to answer any of these, or simply reflect on what stood out to you in this chapter. Your perspective can encourage others on the journey!

What’s Next?

• Read ahead: The full PDF is available if you want to keep going, or come back next week for Chapter 3.
• Invite someone: These posts are designed for group or personal reflection—consider inviting a friend to join you.
• Stay engaged: Each week, we’ll continue exploring practical ways to ROW against the flow, with prompts for honest conversation and prayer.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your voice matters—let’s encourage one another as we grow in awareness and freedom together.

Chapter 2 – Recognizing the Battle

It was May 2024 and my friend Weston and I had planned a hike starting at significant altitude, but going even higher to Mason Lake in the Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Northwest. The forecast that week called for 85° in the lowlands. As we started hiking up the trail it began to snow on us. Thankfully, I was warm from exertion, but the further we went up the more we encountered snow on the ground. By the time we got to the lake, we might as well have been in the dead of winter with a frozen lake. When we stopped to eat our lunch, the layers I brought could barely keep up with the cold. 

How might we have prepared if we were expecting to go into the snow? In Finland, they say there is no bad weather; there is only bad gear. But don’t you need to know what you’re facing in order to gear up? We need to be much more like prepared wilderness trekkers than day hikers. We’ve got to realize we are in a storm, a spiritual battle.

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s easy to overlook the unseen forces at work around us. We navigate through our routines, face our challenges, and celebrate our victories, often unaware that we’re participants in a cosmic struggle that has been raging since the dawn of creation. This chapter aims to open your eyes to the reality of spiritual warfare and equip you with the knowledge to recognize the battle in your everyday life.

The Reality of Unseen Forces

The Apostle Paul says something that has often intrigued me.

But if anyone has caused sadness, he has not saddened me alone, but to some extent (not to exaggerate) he has saddened all of you as well. This punishment on such an individual by the majority is enough for him, so that now instead you should rather forgive and comfort him. This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair.Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.For this reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything. If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him—for indeed what I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ, so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes). — 2 Corinthians 2:5–11

In the last verse he suggests that we are not unaware of the devil’s schemes. How many of us could say that? I find that we are often completely unaware that the enemy has schemes against us and he’s plotting the destruction of those that God loves. 

In this passage Paul encourages the church to offer forgiveness to a person so they do not go into excessive sorrow and spiral down into the trap that the enemy has set. How often has that been your situation? It starts out as repetitive or major offense and then you start to spiral down and think that you have to beat yourself up in order to show that you are taking your sin seriously. 

When we are beating ourselves up, we are not treating sin the way God sees it. King David would challenge you that if you don’t confess your rebellion you will indeed break apart from the inside out, but that when you confess you find freedom. Listen in on his confession:

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your loyal love! Because of your great compassion, wipe away my rebellious acts! Wash away my wrongdoing! Cleanse me of my sin! For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin. Against you—you above all—I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me. — Psalm 51:1-4

One of the main schemes of the devil is unforgiveness. Demons are unforgiven and unforgiving. This is one of their trickiest weapons against us. 

King David rightly understands his major sin (adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband after trying to cover it up) as against God. How many times have you said, “I know God has forgiven me but I cannot forgive myself?” Do you see the subtle scheme of the enemy here? God Almighty has offered to cleanse you from your sin and unrighteousness but you maintain the right to beat yourself up over it. It’s like we are saying that God’s level of purity is, of course, 10 out of 10 and so he can forgive us but ours is more like 20 out of 10. We elevate ourselves above God. This is subtle but it goes right back to the garden of Eden where we decide what is right and what is wrong. 

Paul also reminds us that while it looks like we have human enemies we are not to engage battle with them.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. — Ephesians 6:12

This verse unveils a profound truth: there’s more to our world than what meets the eye.

These unseen forces are not mere abstractions or metaphors. They are real spiritual entities that actively work to influence our thoughts, decisions, and actions. Just as we can’t see the wind but can observe its effects, we can discern the presence of these spiritual forces by their impact on our lives and the world around us.

Identifying Spiritual Battles in Everyday Life

One way to begin to identify the battles is through journaling and confession to others. This exposes our hidden beliefs and shows us where we consistently struggle. So how do we recognize these spiritual battles in our daily lives? Here are some signs to watch for:

• Persistent temptations: When you find yourself continually drawn to things you know are wrong, it’s often a sign of spiritual attack.
• Doubt and confusion: If you’re suddenly questioning truths about God that you once held firmly, the enemy may be at work.
• Discouragement and despair: Feelings of hopelessness, especially about your faith, can be a tactic of the enemy.
• Distractions from spiritual disciplines: When you find it unusually difficult to pray, read the Bible, or fellowship with other believers, it could be spiritual opposition.
• Conflict in relationships: While not all conflict is spiritual in nature, persistent strife, especially among believers, can be a sign of the enemy’s work.

The Importance of Awareness

One day in my senior year of high school, I was walking down the hallway from the locker room in the gym. An enraged classmate confronted me with a highly flexible kick to my face. To this day, I have no idea why he was upset with me, but it could have been something I said or did in PE class. Again, if you don’t know you’re in a fight it’s really hard to prepare for it. 

Recognizing that we’re in a battle is the first step toward victory. When we’re aware of the spiritual nature of our struggles, we can respond appropriately. Instead of relying on our own strength or worldly solutions, we can turn to God, utilize the spiritual weapons He’s given us, and stand firm in the faith.

Learning to R.O.W.

Repent: What lies have you been believing about God or yourself? 

Obey: Obey the Gospel – What is true about Jesus? What is true about you because He has your allegiance?

Worship: Give God the honor and praise He deserves

As we learn to recognize the battle and implement the R.O.W. principle, we’ll be better equipped to stand firm against the enemy’s schemes and live out our faith with courage and conviction.

Conclusion

As we close this chapter, I want to offer you another metaphor. The demonic temptations and pestering is a lot like mosquitoes. When we’re hiking on the trail sometimes we come across areas where they just swarm. Just keep hiking. This is probably not the place to set up camp is it? There are swamps we can avoid to stay away from the pestering, right? 

To close, here’s another metaphor: demonic temptations are like mosquitoes. Sometimes you hit a swarm—just keep hiking. Don’t set up camp in the swamps where they gather. The spiritual battle is real, and it’s happening all around us. But remember, 

You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. — 1 John 4:4

As we move forward, we’ll explore deeper aspects of this battle and learn practical strategies for victory. The journey ahead may be challenging, but with awareness, faith, and the tools God has given us, we can navigate these waters successfully.

Have you started to understand the battle, the current, and to ROW against the flow?

Reflection

1. Can you recall a time when you were caught unprepared for a challenging situation, similar to the hiking story? How might this relate to spiritual preparedness?
2. In what areas of your life do you find it most difficult to recognize spiritual battles? Why do you think this is?
3. Of the five signs of spiritual battles mentioned (persistent temptations, doubt and confusion, discouragement and despair, distractions from spiritual disciplines, and conflict in relationships), which do you encounter most often? How can you be more aware of these in your daily life?
4. How might journaling and confession to others help you identify hidden beliefs and consistent struggles in your spiritual life?
5. Think about a recent struggle you’ve faced. Looking back, can you see any signs that it may have been a spiritual battle? How might you approach a similar situation differently in the future?
6. Are there certain swamps you can avoid easily to stay away from the mosquitoes? 

Prayer Focus

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the truth of Your Word that reminds us of the unseen spiritual realities around us. We ask for Your wisdom and discernment to recognize the spiritual battles in our daily lives. Open our eyes to see beyond the physical realm and grant us the courage to face these challenges with faith.

Lord, help us to be vigilant and aware of the enemy’s tactics. Strengthen us to resist temptation, doubt, and discouragement. Guide us in maintaining strong spiritual disciplines and healthy relationships.

We pray for the discipline to journal and the courage to confess to others, that we might expose hidden beliefs and consistent struggles. Help us to apply the R.O.W. principle – to Repent of the lies we’ve believed, to Obey the truth of the Gospel, and to Worship You in all circumstances.

Thank You for the assurance that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. May we walk in this truth daily. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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