During times of crisis, it can be hard to keep our sanity. I know that I enjoy watching survival shows on TV where the host is pitted against different trying circumstances in the wilderness and has to overcome them with just his knowledge and a few carefully chosen supplies. The host would always mention that having a positive mental attitude and good spirits during a survival event is crucial. I think that we need to keep our spiritual attitude high during this time, and having the right tools to rely on can help us do that. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been faced, as a nation and as a world, with an unprecedented situation requiring extreme mental strength and tenacity. But I wonder if we have been prepared for the spiritual battle that we face during this trying time. It helps to be prepared for an emergency, and a survival kit is essential to help you survive an unexpected crisis. All survival kits need to contain five things: a fire starter, shelter, a multi-tool (or sturdy knife), water purification tablets, and emergency food. These items help you have the essential things that you need during an emergency. In the same way, there are things that you need spiritually to survive a crisis, and these items have spiritual parallels for us to use to help us during these times. 

Essential Items for Any Survival Kit

Fire Starter –  Matches or a good magnesium stick and flint bar are a great item to keep in any survival kit. In our spiritual survival kits, the fire starter is singing. Singing can provide the spark that we need to get our spiritual hearts to start burning for the Lord. Colossians 3:16 tells us to teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Singing lifts our spirits naturally, and sometimes we need the spark to our moods that singing songs to the Lord can provide. As James says in James 5:13, “Is anyone joyful? Let him sing songs.” 

Shelter – All survival kits need a form of shelter, whether it be a small tent or even just a tarp to help construct a shelter. We need protection from the elements to keep us safe and warm. Prayer is what we need in our spiritual survival kit to give us shelter from the storms of life. Prayer puts us in the very presence of God and helps us to see things from His perspective. When we pray, we put things in His hands, including ourselves, and trust that He will protect us. In Psalm 31:2 David says “Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me.” 

Multi-tool – A good multi-tool comes in handy in any survival situation because it is so versatile. In our spiritual survival kits, our multitool is the Bible. As the word of God, it always has the answers that we are looking for if we will only avail ourselves of it. If we need a blade to scrape away the crusts of a callous heart, it is there. If we need to cut the wire on a snare that Satan has laid for us, it is there. If we need to get a grip on the reality of a situation in our lives that needs confronting, it is there. The Bible is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12). It will always be there to help us if we will take the time to seek it during emergencies in our lives. 

Water Purification Tablets – A human can only survive about three days without water, so having a fresh, clean supply is crucial to the success of any survivalist. In our spiritual survival kits, the water purification tablets are the scriptures that we have memorized to help us during times of temptation. A full bottle of purification tablets can provide many gallons of freshwater. In like manner, a mind full of different scriptures will stay fresh and healthy. James 4:8 admonishes us to “purify your hearts you double-minded.” We must purify our hearts and minds with the word of God to avoid spiritual contamination with sin. Whatever sins we struggle with the most need to have a ready counterpart in the word of God to help us win the battle and neutralize the threat every time. 

Emergency Food – Last on our list of items in our survival kits is emergency food. Some people debate whether it is really that important to have food in a survival kit since humans can go so long without it (up to 3 months). But it is recommended to have at least a 72 hour supply of it to help power you through the action-phase of a crisis when your body is being taxed to the limit in a survival situation. I believe it is important to have food in our spiritual survival kits because without spiritual nourishment our souls waste away and become weak. Our spiritual emergency food is kind deeds for others. At a time in Jesus’ life when he was weary, He said: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work.” (John:4:24) We must do kind deeds for others during this crisis and “let us not be weary in well-doing” (Gal. 6:9)

It is my hope and prayer that you are staying spiritually safe most of all during this time. May the items in your spiritual survival kits keep you energized and comforted to be able to weather the storms that life may throw at you, now and always. 

By: Kenny Barcroft