Six Characteristics to Develop Spiritual Strength

God's Warrior Woman ~ Mary's Story 

Peering through our kitchen window I noticed a mysterious car parked outside.

Was the car gold or was the sun reflecting off the hood? To my ten-year-old self, the unknown car looked fancy.

I excitedly ran outside, peered in the window, saw the beautiful black interior and desperately wanted to sit inside.

It was the coolest car I had ever seen and I soon learned my parents were the new owners of the golden Chevrolet Vega.

Why was I so excited about a small shiny sedan in my driveway? Because that unassuming car was our family’s first. Until that day, we only rode in friends’ cars, buses, and taxis.

It was unusual in our small suburb to not own a car. We were one of a few families who walked or used public transportation.

Growing up with less than others sometimes made me feel insignificant, but I am thankful for my humble beginnings.

In God’s kingdom, vulnerability is beautiful because it helps us realize our limitations and the importance of trusting God.

Dependence on God and fervent prayer usher in true peace, confidence and courage.

Communicating with God and embracing His mercy and grace develops spiritual strength; a deep trust in God and reliance on Him to overcome obstacles.

Surrender and prayer develop the confidence to become a warrior in the Kingdom of God.

“Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.” 
Proverbs 15:16 NLT

Becoming a Warrior

A warrior is a brave or experienced soldier or fighter who is powerful and strong; gaining strength from training and tenacity.

Not a description I would use to describe myself.

But even if we are powerful in the physical sense, becoming a spiritual warrior changes our definition of strength.

Our training to be God’s warrior begins the day we say yes to Jesus--yes to His sacrificial and unconditional love.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 NIV

As we draw near God through prayer and Bible study, our spirit grows stronger and is purified during difficult seasons.

Realizing we need God to save us and walk beside us, we become God’s warriors illuminating His love.

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” Romans 8:11 NIV

When a soldier is preparing to fight, they must focus on developing physical and mental strength, focus, and intuitiveness. In order to be brave, they must put in the work.

We must also put in the work to develop our spiritual muscles and learn to hear from God. As our communication with Jesus grows so does our ability to fight our battles.

Daily encounters with Jesus through prayer, worship, and Bible reading lead to spiritual maturity.  This intimacy with God helps us become courageous and fulfill the mission of leading others to Christ while demonstrating His peace and joy despite our circumstances.

Daily encounters with Jesus through prayer, worship, and Bible reading lead to spiritual maturity.  This intimacy with God helps us become courageous and fulfill the mission of leading others to Christ while demonstrating His peace and joy despite our circumstances.

“I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]” Philippians 4:13 AMP

The Characteristics of a Warrior

Growing up watching my parents struggle taught me how true warriors develop. Not by natural strength and dominance but by determination, intentionality and humility.

There are six characteristics to develop spiritual strength and become a true warrior for Christ.

#1 Trust

Trust is the first building block to spiritual strength. We must believe with our whole being that Jesus loves us, died to save us, and has our best interest in mind. Trust is developed through prayer and fasting.

“Jesus answered him, you do not understand now what I am doing. But you will understand in the future." John 13:7 ERV

#2 Patience

For most of us, patience does not come naturally. We have to develop patience and learn to wait on God. Being patient helps us hear the Holy Spirit and embrace the benefits of His timing. Patience helps us become long-term visionaries instead of short-term gratification seekers.

“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” Ecclesiastes 7:8 GNT

#3 Perseverance

Perseverance and patience are sisters. In order to persevere and stay the course we must develop patience. As patience grows so does our ability to stick to our faith and not encounter prolonged spiritual fatigue.

“He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths, as He has promised." Psalm 23:3 NLT

#4 Humility

Trust and humility are foundations for a Christ follower. We must begin with complete trust in God and then humble ourselves before Him.

Warriors are unsuccessful when they focus on themselves and disregard others.

God’s grace and guidance give the ability to embrace humility.

“And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:10 NLT  

#5 Surrender

Surrendering to God gives us supernatural power; not because of what we can do but because of what He can do through us. Our spiritual training and tenacity benefit our souls so we can become God’s warriors sharing His love.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” Matthew 16:24-25 NLT

#6 Prayer

Prayer is the cornerstone of our connection to God. Only through prayer is it possible to become a warrior for the Lord. In our own strength, we can at times exude positive characteristics. But ultimately, we will fail if not for the grace of God and His unending love for us.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

Leaning on Christ and asking Him to develop these characteristics will help you grow spiritually and become a Godly warrior fighting your own battles.

In the spiritual realm, we can define ourselves as God’s imperfect warriors. Imperfect but extravagantly loved, awaiting our daily assignment to plant seeds of love and direct others to the greatest reward--a life encountering Christ now and in eternity.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12 NIV

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You Are An Overcomer!

You are not alone; God created you in His image, which means you have power and authority.  He has equipped you with His strength and boldness. I would love to connect more and give you a FREE gift - The Warrior Woman Workbook: Overcoming Through the Power of Prayer and Fasting. 

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Mary Rooney Armand is a writer, teacher, and creator of the faith-based blog ButterflyLiving.org. Her writing is featured on multiple Christian websites and she is the author of the book, “Identity, Understanding, and Accepting Who I am in Christ” available on Amazon. In September Mary will launch her second book, a collaboration with 34 amazing authors sharing Life Changing stories.

Besides writing, Mary leads and teaches retreats and small groups. She directed Kids Hope USA, a mentoring program for children, worked in marketing and sales, and has led mission trips to Honduras. Mary is a life coach with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and an MBA. She and her wonderful husband Cory live in Louisiana with their 4 children and 2 dogs!
Connect with Mary at www.butterflyliving.org, or on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Linkedin, and Twitter.