The Fine Print: POW — Prisoner of War

Distracted soldiers become easy targets.

Welcome back!

To know me is to know—I like watching the news.

Not the tabloid gossip or the drama-filled headlines, but the real stuff—what’s happening around the world, beyond my zip code, past the county lines and comfort zones.

Not because I enjoy chaos or tension, but because I want to be aware.

Some people avoid the news altogether: 

“It’s too depressing,” they say. “It’s all fake.” “They only report the bad.”

And honestly? I get it. Between biased reporting and filtered narratives, it can be hard to know what’s real.

But whether you trust the media or not, one thing is certain: There is a war happening.

Not just in one part of the world! There’s a war happening in the spirit.

And it’s impacting our homes, our minds, our decisions, our peace—our walk.

Let me be clear: I’m not saying we should feed our souls on headlines or panic at every update. This isn’t about fear—it’s about discernment.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.)” 

— 2 Corinthians 10:3–4

This verse is a holy reminder that we are in a very real battle—but it’s not one we can fight with our fists or fix with the right headlines. We may live in a physical world, but the war we’re engaged in is spiritual. And that means worldly tools—our opinions, debates, or even our own strength—won’t win it.

Instead, our weapons are spiritual:

• Prayer

• The Word of God

• Fasting

• Worship

• Discernment

• Faith

These are the weapons that don’t just defend us—they tear down strongholds. And a stronghold isn’t always a demonic fortress in the distance. Sometimes, it’s the fear you’ve been carrying. The mindset that’s kept you stuck. The habit that’s had you bound.

Paul is telling us: Don’t try to fight spiritual battles using fleshly strategies. God has given us powerful, divine tools—and it’s time we pick them up.

So I pray as you read this, you’ll put on your spiritual ears. I know—you may have read this verse before. But I pray the Word of God never becomes so familiar that it loses its reverence in your life. He can always show us something new—if we’re open to Him revealing it.

So tune in—not to fear—but to the Spirit of Truth. This isn’t panic. This is preparation.

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The Life of a Soldier

I’ve never served in the military—but I know people who have. And maybe you do too. A soldier is someone who fights for their country, right? Now, can we agree on this: Not all soldiers go into combat, but every soldier is trained for it. For the sake of this blog, I want to focus on that word—training.

But before I go any further, let me pause and say: I’m personally thankful for every soldier who serves in the natural. We honor you. Thank you for your service.

—Just flow with me.

If I had to guess, military training includes things like:

• Recognizing the enemy

• Following orders

• Staying alert

• Defending the mission

  
  

Not to mention—they have to stay in shape. They must be physically and mentally prepared, constantly sharpening their skills.

So now let’s shift the lens: What does that look like in the spirit?

“But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.” — Hebrews 5:14 (CSB)

“Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything... I discipline my body and bring it under strict control…” — 1 Corinthians 9:25–27 (CSB)

🎯 Training looks like doing the hard things: saying no to sin, yes to God, resisting temptation, and building spiritual muscles through practice.

Just like a natural soldier trains their body and reflexes, we must train our discernment.

We can’t afford to be spiritually out of shape.

• Prayer sharpens us

• The Word equips us

• Worship strengthens us

• Fasting disciplines us

• Obedience keeps us in alignment

No soldier is sent to combat without training—that would be reckless and dangerous. So if that’s true in the natural, how much more should it be true in the spirit? Because without spiritual training… we become vulnerable. And vulnerability leads to captivity.

This is where spiritual POWs—Prisoners of War—are made.

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When a Soldier Becomes a Prisoner

Let’s sit with this for a second: 

Soldiers can be captured. Even trained ones. Even brave ones. Even disciplined ones. Jesus! 

Because if it can happen in the natural—it can happen in the spirit.

You may not wear a uniform in the natural. But if you belong to Christ, you are a soldier.

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” — 2 Timothy 2:3 (KJV)

This isn’t a title for the spiritually elite. This is a calling for every believer.

We are in a war, whether we acknowledge it or not. And in every war, the enemy has one goal: to capture and neutralize.

In the spiritual realm, it means someone who’s been captured by the enemy—mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.

Here’s what spiritual captivity might look like:

• Living in cycles of sin and defeat

• Numbness in prayer, worship, or purpose

• Being held hostage by fear, bitterness, shame, or confusion

• Feeling like you’re walking, but not really free

And most of the time? It doesn’t happen overnight. It happens slowly.

You stop listening. You stop watching. You stop guarding your heart. 

And before you know it—you’re behind enemy lines, living bound when Jesus already declared you free.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” — Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)

Think about a soldier who unknowingly wanders into enemy territory. They don’t even realize they’re in danger until it’s too late.

That’s what happens spiritually when we’re not alert—when we aren’t being led by the Holy Spirit or when we treat spiritual training like it’s optional.

A prisoner of war is taken captive by the opposing side. In the spirit, Satan’s goal is clear:

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” — John 10:10 (KJV)

He does this by:

• Stealing your identity — making you believe lies about who you are

• Killing your hope — making you feel like change is impossible

• Destroying your purpose — distracting you from God’s assignment on your life

Many of us don’t even realize we’re in captivity until we find ourselves trapped in cycles of fear, addiction, bitterness, or shame.

And it’s not that the uniform has changed—you’re still showing up to church, still reading devotionals—but your spirit is in a cell, and your fire is gone.

But here’s the truth: 

That prison cell doesn’t have a lock. The door is open. 

And Jesus already walked in and declared, “You’re free.”

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Jesus Came With a Release Order

By now, you might be thinking, “Okay, I see it. Maybe I’ve been a little distracted. Maybe I’ve been stuck. But now what?”

The answer: Jesus didn’t come just to save us—He came to free us. He came to break the chains, open the gates, and call prisoners out of darkness.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…” — Isaiah 61:1–3 (KJV)

This is not poetry. This is prophecy. And Jesus confirmed it was about Him (Luke 4:18).

These verses are Heaven’s release order. They are God’s official declaration that:

• The broken can be mended

• The bound can be freed

• The mourners can be comforted

• The weary can trade heaviness for praise

When Jesus speaks, prison doors swing open. When He enters, shame has to leave. When He touches your heart, the chains don’t get to stay.

He doesn’t leave us in our condition. He gives you:

• Beauty for ashes

• Joy for mourning

• A garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness

This is what He was anointed to do. This is what He came to do. And He’s still doing it today.

So if you’re realizing you’ve been living like a POW in the spirit—this is your moment. Jesus already declared the release. All that’s left… is for you to walk out.

Conclusion: Walk It Out

We are not meant to live life bound.

The truth is—many believers are walking around in full armor, quoting Scripture, and serving faithfully... but still held hostage behind enemy lines.

Why? Because we stopped watching. We got weary. We got distracted.

He didn’t just come to get us into heaven—He came to get heaven into us now. He came to set captives free, heal the brokenhearted, and lift the weight that’s been crushing your spirit.

The prison doors are already open. And friend, if that’s you... this is the moment to walk out.

No more staying stuck. No more rehearsing the lies. No more carrying what Jesus already broke off. Period.

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Prayer

Lord, thank You for opening my eyes. Thank You for exposing the lies of the enemy. Thank you for reminding me that I am a soldier in Your army. Forgive me for the times I’ve been distracted, passive, or numb to what’s really happening.

I surrender every area of captivity—whether it’s fear, shame, complacency, or discouragement—and I step into the freedom You’ve already declared, NOW! Lord, I believe your word is true. Please help me with any unbelief.

Break every chain, Lord. Awaken my spirit. Train my hands for war and my heart for obedience. Fill me again with discernment and fire, that I may walk in the authority You’ve given me and help others find freedom too.

I will not be a prisoner of war. I will be a warrior of the Kingdom.

In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Talk to you next week friend!