A few nights ago, I had one of the most
vivid dreams I have ever experienced. I was atop Mount Ashland dug into
foxholes with other believers. We were involved in intense combat.  Mount Ashland is a high mountain where I live
that overlooks southern Oregon and Northern California. Because of the location of the
battle, I knew the outcome of the battle would have regional significance.

The battle scene in the dream was like video
footage of actual combat.  Bullets were
flying over our heads.  Each of us fired
our weapons at wave after wave of the advancing enemy.  I heard fellow soldiers yelling “Ammo!” and I
would see a fresh magazine thrown from one foxhole to another to keep each
solider in the fight.  Combatants were
screaming orders and warnings. “Incoming” was shouted to announce incoming
rounds of dark spiritual artillery.

As the battle finally came to an end a
deep and profound silence settled over the battlefield as the cloud of smoke
from spent gunpowder still hung in the air above our heads.  We rose from our entrenchments into a post-battle
hush to see the enemy lying dead at our feet extending as far as the eye could
see.  Our faces were dirty and tear-stained
as we began to look at each other with gratefulness that we would live to see another
day.

We began to march down from the
mountain summit to the ski lodge.  A line
of people stood waiting for our return. This line filled the lodge and traced out
into the parking lot down the mountain for miles into the valley below. Those
waiting in line were people from our community who knew we had just put our
lives at risk in a high place battle for the well being of their families and
community. One after one, our necks were hugged with great emotion.  Each person in line shed thankful tears of
joy at the victory.

As I debriefed the battle, I remembered
seeing those who survived the fight raising shields of faith. These were the
same shields described by Paul in Ephesians 6 that capture and extinguish the incoming arrows of the enemy. These were not like a solid gladiator’s shield.  We could see through our shields.  When we raised them in battle they did not
obscure the battlefield before us. 
Whenever we lifted our shields of faith and looked through their
transparency the entire image of the battle would change. If our shields were not raised we could
only see the approaching enemy with the eyes of fearful natural sight.  

In faith, we also saw angels in combat
with us. These angels were swinging their swords and destroying the approaching
enemy with each powerful swing of their powerful blades. Prayers we had prayed
in years past arrived like time-traveling mortars exploding on the field of our present battle. 

The enemy became surprised and confused.
They began to raise their heads trying to understand the supernatural
intervention that was turning the battle in our favor.  As their heads were raised we were able
to easily identify them as targets and dispatch their lies with well-aimed
declarations of truth.

There is a battle being waged in the
high places of the spirit realm over our families, our cities and every region
in our nation. These life and death battles are being waged and won with
the unnatural weapons of prayer and faith. 
These supernatural weapons and tactics will transform how we see the
battlefield and the enemy who stands before us.

If you have become overwhelmed at what
is transpiring in the world around you it is because your shield of faith hangs
limp at your side. Raise your shield and begin to see the battle from heaven’s
perspective. Nothing coming against you will be able to gain control of your
spiritual battlefield if you see the battle with the eyes of faith. You are always
fighting from a place of victory. This reality is what empowers our faith and turns the tide of battle.