最近，母親跟我講述了動物發生衝突的景象。她透過非洲一個水源地的即時網路攝影鏡頭，看到南非劍羚和鴕鳥發生衝突。南非劍羚是體型壯碩的羚羊，頭上的長角可達60公分以上，看似強悍、不易受驚嚇，除非遇到一群勇猛又發出吼叫聲的鴕鳥。

那隻領頭的鴕鳥比南非劍羚更高，牠一邊像獅子般怒吼，一邊抖動身上巨大的羽毛，朝三隻南非劍羚衝過去，結果那三隻劍羚竟落荒而逃。

我對母親說：「我猜那三隻南非劍羚大概忘了牠們頭上的角有多厲害吧！」

基督徒面對屬靈敵人撒但的攻擊時，可能會忘記自己擁有的能力。我們有聖靈住在心裡（羅馬書8章11節），還有上帝賜下的全副軍裝：「要穿戴上帝所賜的全副軍裝，就能抵擋魔鬼的詭計」（以弗所書6章11節）。撒但常想動搖我們對上帝話語的信心，使我們懷疑自己在基督裡的身分，並引誘我們犯罪。

但我們能站立得穩，因上帝所賜的軍裝包括「真理當作帶子」，「公義當作護心鏡」，「信德當作盾牌」，「救恩的頭盔」，「聖靈的寶劍，就是上帝的道」（14-17節）。

當敵人用恐懼、罪疚或絕望來攻擊我們時，我們當謹記自己是上帝的兒女，已經裝備妥當，能站立得穩。

Recently, my mom gave me a play-by-play of a surprising confrontation she saw on a live webcam feed from a watering hole in Africa. The Gemsbok, a large antelope, has horns that can be more than two feet long, making it a formidable animal that doesn’t seem to scare easily. That is, unless it comes across a group of brave and rowdy ostriches.

The lead ostrich, which was taller than its foes, shook its large feathers, roared, and stomped toward three Gemsbok, causing them to flee.

“I guess they didn’t realize how powerful their horns are,” I said to my mom.

Believers in Jesus can forget the power we have when faced with attacks from our spiritual enemy, Satan. We have the Holy Spirit who lives inside us (Romans 8:11) and the armor of God to help us: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). Satan wants to challenge our belief in God’s Word, question our identity in Christ, and tempt us to sin.

But we can stand strong because God’s armor includes “the belt of truth, . . . the breastplate of righteousness, . . . the shield of faith, . . . the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (vv. 14-17).

When the enemy attacks us with feelings of fear, condemnation, or despair, let’s remember we’re God’s children and are well equipped to stand strong.