Author Darlene J. Conard

Brace yourself. Steady your spirit. Prepare for action. When God commanded, “Gird up thy loins,” He wasn’t offering poetry—He was issuing a survival strategy.

In those days, a warrior’s robe flowed long and loose. Beautiful, yes—but dangerous. The very garment meant to cover them could entangle their feet, slow their stride, and cause them to fall. So before battle, before running, before stepping into anything that required strength, they would gather up the loose fabric, tie it tight around their waist, and free their legs to move with purpose.

God was saying: Pull in the things that could trip you. Secure what could sabotage your momentum. Fasten every loose end so nothing snatches your footing when I call you to move.

It’s a call to readiness. A call to clarity. A call to strip away every snare before stepping into destiny.

In this hour, God is teaching us to stand firm and see victory.

The greatest battlefield we face is not around us but within us. The mind is where fear tries to whisper, where lies attempt to take root, and where the enemy seeks to plant confusion. But the mind is also where God speaks peace, where truth anchors us, and where His Spirit strengthens us to stand unshaken.

Standing firm in the battle for our minds begins with recognizing that we are not fighting alone. “The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” When the storm rises inside, God does not step back—He steps closer.

To stand firm means:

• Guarding the gates of our thoughts. Not every thought deserves entry. We choose what we allow to stay.
• Refusing to agree with fear. Fear is loud, but it is not the Lord.
• Holding fast to truth even when feelings tremble. Feelings shift; God’s word does not.
• Declaring what God says louder than what the enemy suggests. Every lie loses power when confronted with the truth.
• Staying rooted, not running “Having done all, to stand.” Standing is not passive—it is warfare.

The mind becomes steady when we anchor it in God’s promises. The mind becomes peaceful when we surrender it to His presence. The mind becomes victorious when we refuse to bow to the enemy’s intimidation.

Standing firm is not about never feeling pressure. It is about refusing to collapse under it.

It is choosing to say: “My mind belongs to God. My thoughts are not a playground for the enemy. I stand my ground.”

And when we stand, heaven stands with us.

We are walking through days the world has never seen before. We say, “I’m ready,” but when the hour truly arrives—when the shaking hits our doorstep—will we still be standing? Will our faith hold its ground, or will the winds test what our words only claimed?

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”  —1 Peter 1:13 KJV

We are in a spiritual war, and it has nothing to do with political opinions, party lines, or human arguments. What we are facing goes far deeper than the surface-level conflicts people like to point to. This battle is not about left or right, conservative or liberal, this nation or that nation. It is about light versus darkness, truth versus deception, freedom versus bondage, and the kingdom of God versus the enemy’s schemes.

Political opinions may shape conversations, but they do not shape the battlefield. The real war is fought in the unseen realm—where thoughts are formed, identities are challenged, and destinies are contested.

This is the war:

• For the mind, where confusion tries to replace clarity
• For the heart, where fear tries to silence faith
• For families, where division tries to uproot unity
• For truth, where deception tries to masquerade as wisdom
• For  purpose, where distraction tries to derail calling

People may argue about policies, but heaven and hell are contending for souls.

This is why the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. This is why discernment matters more than debate. This is why prayer is more powerful than opinion. This is why standing firm in truth is more urgent than winning an argument.

When we say we are in a spiritual war, we are acknowledging that the real enemy is not flesh and blood. It is not your neighbor. It is not your coworker. It is not someone who votes differently from you.

The enemy is the one who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy—quietly, subtly, strategically.

And because the war is spiritual, the victory must be spiritual.

Feel free to forward it to anyone you wish.  My mission is to encourage everyone to follow our Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. ©Darlene J. Conard Vision Ministries 2026.   This may not be republished or used without the author’s written consent. The photograph is AI-generated. Darlene J. Conard is also affiliated with Glory Carrier Ministries. If you have a prayer request, please email it to darlene.conard@hotmail.com, and my intercessors and I will pray.